NationStates Jolt Archive

It was an idyllic day on the island of Vador, a tropical tourist destination on Xiscapia within the Kitsune Empire. On the public, crowded beaches offworlders frolicked on the warm sands with the boom of the surf in their ears and the calls of local vendors trying to sell nick nacks, souvenirs and other pretty objects of little resale value. Resorts and hotels made their money as sentients flocked in by the thousands to enjoy the little slice of heaven that was the island. On much of the island, though, were the huge mansions and vast manors of wealthy business executives, high-ranking military commanders and the mega-rich. One such of these mini palaces was the Cuqa Manor.

Cuqa was a trillionaire business president of BlastTech, a massive company that produced the majority of the small arms used in the Xiscapian military. This made the buyers happy because BlastTech armaments proved to be highly effective in the field, the stockholders happy because the corporation was a native one and not one of the mistrusted foreign ventures, and BlastTech itself happy because kitsune were always looking for new and creative ways to equip themselves to kill their enemies. Cuqa was at the head of all this, and at the old age of fifty-eight the kitsune worth twenty trillion standard credits was thinking about retiring to get the most out of the forty or so years he figured he had left. The Xiscapian had it made: Five houses, three on Xiscapia, one in Illesia and one on Kirisubo Primus, two dozen custom made, both classic and sports cars (ancient machines but nevertheless beautiful in their own right), a small army of servants, hundreds of security men loyal to him, dozens of companies spread throughout the Kitsune Empire, a bank account with more money in it than entire sectional budgets of developing nations, three wives and the light of his life, his only daughter Ledi.

At the moment Cuqa was at the Manor, finishing up some business with a few associates in a conference room.
"As you can see from this graph, sir, projected profits are to improve by a margin of sixty-two to eight-five percent within the next year, so we will recover nicely from the little, ahha, catastrophic. Now, reliable sources within the XGA have told me that Master General Dom is interested in equipping the explosive bolts as part of standard equipment, which as you know are to go into production later this year-"
Cuqa, a darker skinned, older kitsune with once blond and now silvering hair, white fur and yellow eyes wearing a plush deep blue suit, leaned back as a servant entered the room. "Transmission for you from your daughter, sir," said the servant quietly, and Cuqa nodded and stood. "Excuse me for a moment, gentlemen," he nodded to the bespectacled man at the holoprojector and the kitsune sitting across the table and silently exited the room.

Out in the tiled hallway, marble statues and vast canvas oil panting adorning the walls, he accepted a communicator from the servant and brought it up to his face, the smiling visage of his young thirteen-year-old daughter clearly visible on the screen. Her hair was as black as deep space, eyes emerald green, the slant of her eyes suggesting an Asian heritage and her fur a brilliant ivory. Though the screen did not show it, Ledi was unusually tall for a Xiscapian female of her age, a towering six foot one, taller than many of the non-Alversians in her class and equal to or barely below most of those who were. Ledi's mother, Cuqa's second wife, was Alversian, and from this she got her height and eye color, not to mention her stubbornness when she believed herself to be right. This, however, was not evident as her lips slit apart into a sharp-toothed grin at the sight of her father.

"Daddy!" she squealed.
"Honey!" boomed her father, a wide smile on his face. "What news does my favorite daughter bring?"
"Oh daddy," she gave a good-natured roll of her eyes, "I'm your only daughter!"
"I know, I just like making you say that." Cuqa teased.
"I'm calling to let you know I'll be home in a few hours. It was our first day back to the Academy, oh it was so wonderful Daddy I can't wait to tell you about it!"
"You can spill all the details over dinner, dear, Daddy's in a meeting," her father smiled benevolently. "I'll be counting the minutes."
"Me too!" She blew him a kiss. "I love you!"
"I love you too, honey. Remember, we're in the Vador house, Cuqa Manor, Chives will be at the spaceport to pick you up."
"I'll remember! Bye!"
"Bye bye now, hurry home."
With a far-away smile on his face Cuqa gave the communicator back to the servant and strode back to his meeting, intent on finishing up by the time he daughter arrived home.

Kel, Funm...
The rocky moon of Kel was the prime exporter of valuable gems and precious metals to Xiscapia, but it mainly produced the all-important Guilda crystal, the energy source of the kitsune. The transport from the Academy of the Rose had made a temporary stop in the spaceport to take on extra fuel for the trip back down to the planet, and the returning students were allowed a strict one hour to explore the city with chaperons. It was considered safe, Funm was the most advanced city on the moon, and also the safest, unlike the slums of Someia or dangerous mining areas around Kintel. The young Xiscapian was escorted by her personal bodyguard, a huge, tall, heavyset Korr in a suit rippling with muscles, wearing dark glasses and a concealed pistol, with the licence to use it to protect his charge. Ledi affectionately called him "Jim". However, the gigantic muscles the ape-like being was packing should be more than enough to dissuade any muggers or pickpockets from their work, so both felt safe.
A trap.

The man with the scar across his cheek watched the tall half breed and her bodyguard walking down the streets without a care in the world. They were complacent, warm, happy.
It made him sick.
Once upon a time, what he was about to do would have repulsed him. Once he had been a proud soldier in the Emperor's Praetorian Guard. Once he had been a noble of high standing and favor in the Courts of Setulan, an officer and a gentleman.
Now, he was a mercenary. And a mercenary did not feel repulsion. A mercenary was not a soldier, a noble, or an officer. A mercenary wanted one thing-money. And nobody had as much money as this whelps father.
Seeming to scratch his nose, he spoke into the vox in his sleeve, a low growl. His voice was hoarse, sounding as if he chewed razorblades. It was the voice of death.
"Take them now. And I swear to you, if you harm one piece of hair on that girls head, I'll skin you alive myself."

The moment froze in time for all involved. The beggar in the alley pulled out a pistol. The woman pushing the babycart drew a sub machine gun out of the carraige. And the black limosine with rolled up windows came to a stop as three men came out, bringing assault weapons to bear on the massive bodyguard. They fired.

The Korr, as the attackers found out, was good. Very good. With Cuqa's money, you could afford to hire the best. In one fluid movement he scooped up Ledi into his huge arms, shielding her from the bullets, and with the other withdrew his pistol and fired it at the first being he identified as an assailant, the beggar. The gun looked like a toy in the beings hands, but if fired a slug so large it tore a hole the size of a dinner plate into the chest of the man, throwing him back into the alley, against the wall and leaving a streak of blood before landing in a crumpled heap. The bullets hit him, but the sheer mass of the bodyguard, combined with the energy-resistant, bullet-proof vest he wore protected him somewhat. He turned his attention to the men spilling from the limo, targeting in an instant, and managed to blow the head off one and shatter the left leg of a second, being shot on all the while, before finally succumbing to the fire and falling, still curled around the shaking form of Ledi. The Xiscapian child, sensing her bodyguard was dead, sobbing from fright and sorrow at the loss of her gentle, silent friend, clambered over his still, bullet-riddled form and ran for her life down the street.

She did not run very far. The man with the scar was waiting for her, and a single, well placed punch laid her out. He hefted her over his shoulder quickly and threw her into the limosine. He looked down at the dead mercenaries without remorse. They knew what they had been getting into. If anything, it only proved he had made a good judgement when he had decided to not take a direct part in the operation. The wounded man was grasping at his leg, begging for help.
Without looking, the man with the scar pulled out a pistol and shot him in the forehead, blowing his brains all over the ground. He got into the limo.
"You know what to do. Haul ass, boy." The driver was only too happy to comply. The woman with the SMG was waiting with the surviving limo assasin for the first law enforcement types to arrive. When they did, they hosed down the car before booking it, distracting the cops from going after the limo.

The long bodied car raced to a sports stadium, where a lander was waiting. It skidded to a halt, and the man with the scar pulled the still unconcious form of the half breed from the back seat. Slinging her over his shoulder again, he carried her onto the ship.
"Get us out of here. We're done."

Twenty Minutes Later

A camera was set up, and turned on. Ledi woke up with bright lights glaring into her eyes and a throbbing headache. She squinted into the glare as a disembodied voice spoke from behind the lights, not knowing she was on a direct link to her father's private line.
"What is your name, little one?"
"Le..Ledi..." the tears came then as she remembered what happened to her bodyguard. The camera pivoted and faced a regal-looking man in an official looking uniform. Medals adorned it, and it was immaculately pressed and taylored. The man looking into the camera now spoke with a slight smile.
"Mr. Cuqa, did you see that? Yes, of course you did. We have your daughter. Alive. And as long as you cooperate, she will stay that way. We will send another message to you when she is more...lucid." A grim smile. "For now, collect your funds. We have some serious negotiation to speak of." The camera went black.

There was a bloody shoot-out which killed a policeman and wounded two others with the remaining thugs, but ultimately both were put down. The bodies were tagged and bagged, but the only one they could identify was the Korr, the others shown to be foreign nationals here without passports or I.D., not registered into the local, moon, system or Imperial databases. They contacted Cuqa, but by then he had already received the message...

Cuqa Manor...
"Who are you! What have you done with her, if you harm her I'll kill you all! Who are you, damnit-"
Cuqa collapsed into his seat as the screen went black, a feeling of total helplessness and despair washing over him. "Ledi..." he whispered, still staring at the screen. The police were useless: All they could report was that if the kidnappers were still inside the Kitsune Empire, they didn't know where they were. In the space of a few seconds, Cuqa made his decision. Picking up his personal communicator, he spoke to his private secretary.
"Get me every listing you have under 'Private Contractor!'"

Xiscapia, Tenfour...
Kartosh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Samuel_Vimes.jpg) started his day with his usual inquiry:
Where the hell am I?
Easing open his crusted eyes, he rubbed them blearily as he looked about his current surroundings. It was a dark, somewhat dirty apartment, though one couldn't really tell because the only light came from the static snow on a holoprojector in the corner. Kartosh himself was lying on a couch directly across from said projector, naked from the waist up, and from his position, the warm spot next to him and the fur that wasn't his, he figured he had spent the night with someone else.
If it wasn't still night, anyway.

This ain't my apartment...
He thought woozily, dragging himself up into a sitting position. Around him he could see crumpled shapes: Half a dozen other kitsune and humans of various genders and types, sprawled where they had passed out or succumbed to a combination of liquor and an exhaustion from an excess of partying. Most of them, the grizzled mercenary noticed, didn't have as much clothes on as you would see on the average person on the street.
Then again, that didn't mean much. This was Xiscapia, after all.
Staggering slightly the Xiscapian shuffled out into the kitchen, where a light burned above the stove. With her back to him was another kitsune, an extremely attractive one wearing nothing more than a nightdress that was altogether too short for her, short cut blue hair only going down to shoulder length, gray tail and ears contrasting Kartosh's rust-red ones. Recognizing her, Kartosh stepped over and put his head on her left shoulder, staring into the too-bright datascreen. He closed his yellow eyes for a moment, blinking away the pain and flashes, before looking back again. "Mornin',"

Skyler (http://ionen.deviantart.com/art/Tanake-Trang-Jedi-52363021) reached up an almost absentmindedly ran a hand though her mate and partner-in-crime's hair, tilting the little device so he could see too. "It's early evening, actually, but that doesn't matter right now," she said quietly. "According to this one Cuqa-"
"President of BlastTech?"
"Yes, that's the one. His daughter, Ledi, has been kidnapped by an unknown number of persons for ransom and taken to an unknown location. He has only received a single message thus far, showing his daughter to be alive and telling him to prepare his funds for negotiations. According to this it happened on Kel as she was coming home from the Academy of the Rose, and police there would have pegged this as gang activity except for the fact that, as far as they can tell, Ledi is no longer within the borders of the Kitsune Empire. Cuqa is willing to pay "a large sum" to any mercenary or bounty hunter for terms that will be disclosed upon meeting."
"Did we do it?"
"No! Qonn no, do you think we would do this? Can you not remember anything?"
"Look, I've got a hangover equivalent to a screaming Alversian drill sergeant up here, I'm not at my best."
"What's that?"
"Loud, pounding, annoying and the overall feeling that a pineapple has just been shoved up my ass."
"..."
"Kidding about that last one."
"So Cuqa wants us there soon."
Kartosh sighed. "Let me guess: It was sent to us. Specifically."
Skyler just nodded.
The male Xiscapian groaned. "It is way too early in the morning for this bullshit-"
"It's evening, I told you." said Skyler without venom. Kartosh was not a morning person, even if he hadn't woken up in the morning, the principle was still the same. "I suggest we take it. Her father is a trillionaire, this could mean even bigger bucks than that whole Pathfinder deal."
Kartosh gave another sigh. "When does he want to meet?"
"Within three hours, local time. He's sent a warning that others will be coming as well."
"Did he specify?"
"...No."
"No worries, then. Say, where are we?"
"Stick's place."
"Why the hell are we at Stick's place?"
"It was your damn idea!"
"Oh...all right then. Uh, have you seen my shirt?"
"Fuck your shirt, I'm still looking for my pants..."

The two move quietly among the other slumbering guests, picking up pieces of equipment and articles of clothing as they went. Once they were fully dressed again Skyler nodded. "Let's go-"
"'ey, where you goin', man?"
Both turned to see a gray haired, hangover-blasted, orange eyed, silver furred kitsune in the doorway to the room both remembered being the bedroom leaning against the door frame. It was Sticks, named so because of his enjoyment of hitting people with them, specifically, people who didn't pay his girls on time or abused them. He gave a short laugh, obviously not coherent, though how sane and aware Sticks was at any given time was debatable.
"We've decided to head out, Sticks, got a job." Kartosh murmured to him.
"Oh, yeah?" said Sticks, sounding halfway between a question and a challenge. "What kinda job," he closed his eyes with the effort of concentrating on getting out the next words without too much spittle, "you got?"
"Kidnapping, the usual stuff. Don't worry yourself, man, we'll be back before you know it."
"You'd...better..." he swayed slightly. "Still owe me...ten credits...you do..."
Skyler walked forward, chest thrust out ever so slightly but nevertheless highly noticeable, stopping in front of Sticks. His eyes were inexorably drawn downwards as she ran a single finger along the line of his jaw. "Just...go rest." she said softly, and tapped him on the nose.

Sticks stared at her for a moment, then slowly toppled backwards, unconscious before he hit the floor. Skyler gave a little smile and turned on heel to the door. Kartosh was still staring, but quickly caught up with her.
"How the hell did you do that?"
"Just by the power of...suggestion."
"That would have been really useful in about a thousand situations!"
"It only works on those who are willing."
"You mean the weak minded?"
"Sort of. It helps if you're male."

Two hours later, Vador, Cuqa Manor...
The personal ship of the mercenaries, the Star Snake, landed on the designated landing pad in the courtyard before the massive home. It was well into night there, the last bits of light having long since vanished, and stars were scattered across the sky like sand onto black canvas. They were greeted by a bowing servant, who led them inside to a large, ornate hall filled with plush cushions, comfortable chairs, marble statues, gold trim on the walls, and other such luxuries the rich enjoyed. Sitting down, Kartosh propped his feet up on a particularly expensive Veelan rug draped over a chair, not noticing the wince of the servant as the dirty boots thudded down onto the silk, hands behind his head, the picture of relaxation. "What a place," he muttered, grinning as he took out a cigarette and put it to his lips.

"Master Cuqa prefers it if you would wait for the others to arrive, so he can speak to you all together," said the servant, recoiling from the smoke. "You will stay here until they get here and he calls you."
"Heh," Kartosh looked to Skyler, "if this is prison, then, chain me to the wall!"
This provoked another roll of the eyes, but one could tell she was amused. "I'm sure one such as Cuqa has a lot on his hands, especially considering the circumstances," she told the servant, "we will wait for his invitation."
"Capital. I will return soon." the servant bowed himself out.

The land was quiet. It was a bright evening on one of Alversia's smaller and less than reputable allied planets. It was a planet that was dominated by Thugs, Criminals, Crimelords and Slavers. It was a cool evening, the darkening sun removing any signs of heat as it retreated beneath the horizon. The planet was a wasteland. Nothing but sand and rocky outcrops afar as the eye could see. Occasionally, there were huge herds of wilderbeast moving across the abandoned plains but nothing else. Not a bird in the sky nor a lizard on the ground. All were resting. Well, most were resting.

Amongst the outcrops grew a large fortress with walls as thick as a house and as tall as a giant. These walls were almost as old as the rock that made them. They were impervious to all artillery or bombs and even those seeking to bombard it from space would find their work cut out. It was built by ancients with a mind to the future and it's technologies, it was a wonder of design and manufacture. An impeniterable fortress that not a single human in this galaxy could breech.

No human. But two non-Humans could manage it alright.

The Guards, two powerful humans, stood to rigid attention and peered out into the darkened corridors of the palace. There was little light in the long, tall hallways, so light came from a small series of windows high in the walls each giving a small beam of light into the ground. The two Guards were armed with rifles and a vicious axe ech that looked as though it could remove limbs with ease. They did not speak to each other but stood to attention and stared for any signs of trouble.

Then something moved in the darkness. A slight movement that had the rifles off the shoulders of the Guards and into their hands. They peered even harder into the darkness, trying to see if they had imagined it or if it was were. Something did emerge. A strange creature. From a distance, it looked like a short human, although more details emerged and the guards were confused by it. The humanoid had a pair of large fox ears and a large busy tail. It also had long brown hair and moved very seductively towards them. They did know what it was, all they knew was, from the shape of it and the way it was moving, that it was a female and they liked it very much.

The female fox came to the pair and they relaxed as she smiled at then and brushed her tail along their rifles. The men dropped the rifles to their sides, not noticing the sniper rifle over her shoulder or the katana at her side. All they knew was that she was wearing combat pants with a short top that revealled her tanned midriff to them. They licked their lips at the sight and one of them made the mistake of trying to run his hand along her ass.

It was a mistake because as soon as his hand had touched her trousers, she had grabbed it and swung him into the other Guard. Before the other could recover, she had swung her boot into his head and he had collapsed in a pile with his mate. The female took the rifle from her own back and peered into the darkness, seemingly undisturbed by the total darkness. She was mystery as she looked into the darkness, she was crouched with her rifle at the ready. In the silence, she spoke, a prayer.

"Oh Qonn, not again, surely not again"

Her prayer were answered a few moments later as a storm of red laser fire came down the hallway, followed by a man in black trousers with a black combat jacket and a white t-shirt. He had one hand on a large shotgun at his side and his other hand was glasped around a golden egg,

"CChhllooee!" He yelled as he ran, evidently being chased by more than a dozen angry Guards with blaster rifles.

"How do you do it?!" She shouted back as she took aim with her rifle and dropped one of the chasers with a long shot to the head, "How do you always do it?!"

"I might have pissed of the Locals!" he shouted in reply as he ran past her. She took the hint and tore after him, running towards the entrance, where another dozen guards were waiting. The man did not even bother slowing down and fired a full burst from his shotgun. The shells exploded in a dust cloud around the entrance and when it cleared, the Guards there were nothing more than puddles of blood on the ground. They burst from the palace as a large explosion seemed to gut the building from the inside out. The smoke column towered high into the air.

The pair were breathing heavily as they watched the chaos they had caused. The man was grinning as the girl pushed him in the chest,

"What?" he asked, confused.

"Discretion! Was what I said! I told you to SNEAK into the building, not charge in with your shotgun flaming!"

"Well, where's the fun in that?" Nathaniel T. Barnes asked grinning, "Besides, it got the result"

"How on earth are you still alive?" Chloe asked him for what felt like the dozenth time, "How have you not lost any limbs?"

"A very good question and one a dozen criminals all over the galaxy would like to know" Nathan grinned, "and me too, for that matter"

"Never mind," She sighed, "Did you get the egg?"

"Yup," He showed her the golden egg in his hand, encrusted with jewels, "Lord Mackle will be delighted to get his prize back"

"Yeah," She sighed and relaxed for the first time, "Anyway, what did you do with the mines I gave you? Did you keep them?"

"Ah," Nathan appeared to think, "About that..."

"...oh Qonn," Chloe shook her head,

"I think we should run quite quickly" Nathan suggested as he turned and tore off, Chloe on his tail, with a series of heavy explosions following their every steep, raining debris around them.

Elixir of Life

Back on their vessel, the pair were off planet, heading upwards into starry space. They had handed their egg to the delighted owner and he had paid them their dues. Now they were on their way to a new challenge,

"So, what's this all about?" Asked Nathan as he checked his shotgun, still wearing the dust covered clothes he had escaped the fortress in.

"Didn't you read the brief?" Chloe replied as she sat down next to him, drying her wet, gleaming hair with a towel. Her katana was there as well with it's cleaning kit and she was wearing clean and dry clothes.

"Yes..." a look from Chloe, "...no"

The Kitsune sighed and rolled her eyes while taking her own datapad out and reading the information. Nathan listened as she explained the kidnapping and the request to head to his mansion for a briefing. After she was done, Nathan had a few questions,

"So this guy's a trillionaire?" he asked. She nodded, "And his most precious daughter is missing?"

"Seems that way," She confirmed and watched as he broke out into a grin and grabbed the controls,
"Then let's go!"

Chloe coughed and rolled her eyes again, "Do you know where are we going?" She asked him sweetly.

He nodded his head quickly,
"Of course..." then he paused and looked a little more thoughtful, "Where are we going?"

"His mansion, on the island of Vador, I hear it's quite a place.

"You never went?"

"My family was never rich enough to hang with Trillionaires"

"I was never rich enough to buy my own drinks in a bar"

"You still don't"

"Old habits die hard"

"Like you then," Chloe grinned, Nathan laughed and they burst into hyperspace.

A few Hours later

"This way Sir," The Servant stated, guiding the pair through the mansion. Nathan whistled as he saw the interior,

"My god," he said in wonder, "The Emperor himself doesn't live in a box like this. I believe we are here to see a Mister Cuba?"

"Cuqa!" It was Chloe who quickly corrected, "We are here by invitation, I believe? We were called from assignment"

"Yeah," Nathan chipped in, "I was busy blowing up stuff that didn't need blowing up"

They were led through the mansion and eventually laid eyes upon the other waiting Mercenaries. Nathan and the Chloe grinned widely as who was present, the other two Mercenaries had also risen. Chloe bowed respectfully to both but Nathan had already clapped Kartosh on the shoulder,
"Kartosh!" he said in delight, "Skyler! What a coincidence meeting you here! I assume you're here to clean the pool?" he burst out laughing.

"Captain, the Republicans are badly outnumbered. It looks like Tempes finally screwed up, sir!" The ensign was ecstatic as he called out that wonderful bit of news. Captain Banes smiled grimly.
"He had to sometime. That bastard couldn't keep his luck forever. Fleet status?"
"The Lord Admiral is still holding back by the asteroid belt, but it looks like our squadrons are mobbing the fleet. All units are commited to battle, sir!" Banes laughed out loud.
"That bastard Maxellian won't be able to win the war without his fleet units." he smiled at his bridge crew triumphantly. "Remember this day, boys, as the day that the Emperor kept his crown. Tell your grandchildren you were there!"
"Sir, new contacts!" Banes turned around quickly, the smile fading off of his face.
"What do you mean, new contacts? Where?" The ensign was completely pale when he answered.
"The field, sir. Sir, I'm reading Eternal Pain herself...as well as her entire Task Force..."
"Sir...sir, the Lord Admiral's ship was just struck by...holy emperor...sixty four torpedoes..."
Banes stumbled into his control lectern.
"TEMPES! YOU BASTARD! BAAAAAASSTAAAARRRDDD!!!!"

Jonathan Banes bolted upright, the sweaty sheets falling to his waist. He got out of bed and stumbled to his liquor cabinet, quickly downing a shot of hard whiskey. He shook his head as his heart rate slowly returned to normal.
It had been Fifty six years since the Battle of Mayinga Gulf. Fifty six years, and he still had the same nightmare. At least once a week, he was roused by that bastard Tempes. He shook his head again and walked to his shower.

By the time Banes entered the control room, he was every inch the Naval officer. Superbly starched uniform, medals gleaming, boots shining. His face was impassive as he walked up to the man with the scar.
"Has our subject done anything since last night?" The man shook his head.
"Nothing. Just lots of crying."
"Has she had anything to eat?"
"No, Captain." Banes sighed.
"Make sure she does. If she dies, she is worthless to us...and I want my cut, Colonel, and so do you." the man with the scar gave him a dirty look before nodding and leaving the bridge. Banes sighed. Some, like the Colonel, liked to forget the Setulanite Civil War as a means of drowning their past.
Banes prefered to cultivate his hatred, and use it to his advantage. Fifty six years of staying alive, plying the shipping lanes and using piracy as a means of sustenance. And earning quite the reputation.
Throughout Xiscapian, and Alversian space, pirates and merchants alike spoke of the Burning Death with fear in their voices. No warship had been able to track her down. No merchant ship survived her wrath. Kidnap the crew and ransom them off, steal the merchandise, and let the fools spread the story. None knew where it would strike. It had been a legend, grown over time, that had seemed like a good idea; now, it was a nuisance, a means to track them down. But it couldn't be helped.
But finally, he had scored the mother lode. After this ransom, he would have the funds to purchase a private army and avenge himself on Admiral Tempes.
He turned towards one of his bridge officers.
"Get me a link to Cuqa."

A servant ran up to Cuqa himself as the mercenaries were being entertained.
"Sir, we are getting a transmission from the kidnappers."

"Hardly a coincidence," said Skyler quietly, drowned out by Kartosh's roar of laughter. "It would pay more than my current job!" he crowed.
"Where'd all that money you made off the People's Republic and Kitsune Empire go?"
"Oh," Kartosh grimaced, looking at Skyler, "it's amazing how fast it slips though our fingers. What with us being celebrated heroes and all, the tax collectors finally caught up with us, and we paid, what was it, four hundred thousand dollars in back taxes? Not to mention interest, and late fees, and a whole bunch of other cash going right back to the government. We spent a lot of it refitting the Star Snake, but by then Skyler took control of it and put it in a," he practically spat the next words, "retirement fund. As if we're ever going to retire."
Skyler sighed. "Look, we talked about this, you agreed to it, you said it was a good idea-"
"Well, I changed my mind. We could be living large!"
"I'm not even going to talk about all the bartenders that showed up looking for our tabs..." muttered Skyler to Chole, shaking her head.
Kartosh sighed theatrically. "You just never know, with her," he told Nathan, "she gets these fits of responsibility."
"So what have you guys been up to?"

Cuqa's Office...
Cuqa turned at the servant's words. "Patch them though, now." he growled, and a moment later he had turned to face the holoprojector, silently waiting for the other to speak first.

"Tell me about it," Nathan sighed and laughed, "Chloe's putting all our money into a savings area in case of an emergency. In case we need money fast." He shrugged, "Who plans ahead like that? Not me anyway, I would rather spend the money now then worry about future later than be poor now and a load of money rotting in the bank. I can't even remember the last bill I paid to Alversian Customs"

At this point, Chloe shook her head patiently and whispered into Skyler's ear,
"Men," Was all she said with a roll of her eyes before looking back at Nathan.

"By the way," She said, "Mister Martins wants an advance on his tab. He says you owe him a lot of money"

"What? How much?"

"Put it like this, he could retire on it, you never buy your own drinks"

"Pay him some of our Future money"

"That's for emergencies"

"Then what's this?"

"Stupidity and stubborness for not buying your own drinks" There was tone to Chloe's voice that announced her arguement was final. She pulled a part of her chocolat brown hair from in front of her eyes and sighed. Her glistening hair dropped to halfway down her back.

"Anyway," Nathan turned back to Kartosh, "We haven't been doing much, escorts, rescue missions, thefts. You know, standard practise. How about you? Did Mister Cuba summon you as well?"

"Cuqa" Chloe corrected again patiently.

Cuqa recognized the face looking at him with the same grim smile as the one who had sent the first transmission.

"Hello again, Cuqa. Let me quickly outline the rules of this little game.
"You speak out of turn, she dies.
"You send somebody to rescue her, she dies.
"If you notify the authorities, she will die more painfully than otherwise."
The smile never went away as he continued lightly.
"Simple, isn't it? Now as long as you follow those rules, your daughter will be ok. But the moment you break one..." He didn't have to say it. The smile fell off of the Captain's face.
"You are a buisnessman, Cuqa. Do this right, and your daughter will be fine. You will prepare 1.2 trillion credits, and deliver them too Outpost 4359." A quick consultation of a map would show the outpost was in the debris orbiting Jomstar.
"The person or persons you bring to pick up your daughter will be unarmed. After giving the cash to my representatives, you will get your daughter back...in one piece." The face Cuqa was watching transformed at that moment. It was no longer the face of a member of the Naval Aristocracy. It was a feral, vicious expression that matched what the man's soul looked like. "It is your choice, Cuqa. Either you get your daughter back in one piece...or many."
The screen blacked out before Cuqa could respond.

Composed once more, Banes turned to one of his officers, Commander Smithe. Smithe was one of the few surviving soldiers who had come from Setulan with Banes; the rest were mercenary slime. The best mercenaries in the sector, yes, but mercenaries none the less.
"Take thirty five men and go to the outpost. It's habitable. Set up an ambush for whoever comes."
"You think he will risk you killing his daughter?" Banes shook his head.
"Cuqa did not get to his position of power without being a fool. He knows as well as I do that if I kill his daughter, I have no leverage. No, what he will do is try to get her back by force. That is why you'll be waiting for whoever comes. And you'll kill them."
"What if they have the money?"
"Then you'll take it from their corpses and we'll send Ledi back." He got a surprised look.
"What, you thought I wouldn't? I am just as much a buisnessman as Cuqa. If I need to kidnap somebody again, they must know that I will give them what they want if they give me what we want. Otherwise, every drop will be full of assasins and hitmen. Not a good way to do buisness." Smithe saluted.
"Your will be done, sir."

Skyler sighed in agreement with Chole, watching the two.
"Yup," Kartosh nodded. "A kidnapping, which we didn't do, by the way, of this guys daughter. That's all we got. The coppers were their usual inefficient selves, lucky for us, 'cause this guy's a trillionaire. Don't know any more details, but-"

At that moment a servant entered, bowing. "Sir Cuqa will see you now, honored guests."

Cuqa's Private Office...
The four were ushered into four large, comfortable chairs in front of a large wooden desk. The kitsune behind it stared at them with frightening intensity as they settled in, bearing the haunted look of a parent whose child is in serious trouble. His voice was composed, though, as if giving a speech to underlings in a company meeting:
"Thank you all for coming here today. If you read the briefing," Kartosh gave the slightest snicker, and Cuqa went on, either not hearing it or ignoring the noise, "then you will know my daughter has been kidnapped. We don't know who is behind this, but I have received a call spelling out her ransom. The authorities, both local and international, have no power because they don't know where Ledi is being held. The first thing I did was push them off the case, they are too loud, too noisy, too easily observable.

The four of you have been hired as a whole: My terms are a billion credits, to be split between you however you see fit. My concerns are threefold: Rescue my daughter, alive and unharmed, kill the bastard responsible for this, and dismantle his organization and kill or detain any men he has hired or that are under his command. If Ledi is injured in any way, or if she dies while you are attempting to rescue her," his voice turned cold, "every mercenary, assassin, bounty hunter and two-bit crook in the galaxy is going to come after you, with the price I put on your heads. I want my daughter back, ladies and gentlemen, and I will stop at nothing. They have given us our first clue.

There is a moon in the orbit of Jomstar, named only Outpost 4359, a remnant leftover from the Korr War. There I have been told to drop the payment and I will receive my daughter. Of course, they are lying. Nevertheless, I will give you this case full of what they require. If my daughter is there, you are to take her and get back to Xiscapia the moment she is on board. That is all." He looked at them without expression, eyes empty. "Take it or leave it."

Nathan and Chloe were ushered into the room and took their seats in front of the man. Chloe thought the Kitsune looked rather frightening and felt so sorry for the hell he must be going through right now. She had already resolved that she would rescue this girl, for nothing if need be, but she would be rescued. All Nathan had noticed was that the carpets were expensive and that this Snob's pen alone cost more than his first ship. He settled into his chair, relaxing, allowing Chloe to make the notes while he subconciously recorded them himself. It was always Chloe who made the complex plans and reports. He was just happy to make a brief plan and watch it go wrong.

Nathan seemed to wake up upon the mention of payment and his eyes lit up at the sound of the money he was being offered. He waited politely until the Kitsune had mentioned the price of failure and a grin appeared over his face,
"No pressure then? I can't speak for the rest of the group of course but I know that Chloe will happily sign up for this..."

"Excuse me," Chloe chipped in quietly but firmly, "I have a mouth, I can make up my own mind." It was already made up.

"...as will I," He finished hastily, before turning to his two Xiscapian counterparts, "Shall we be working together? I presume you don't want the Guy's head or anything? Just a note will be fine?"
Chloe almost groaned aloud but managed to contain it, what a thing to say in front of a man who had just lost his daughter. They were ushered from the room and Nathan turned one last time.

"No need to worry, Mister Cuba. We'll have your daughter back in no time"
With that, they were back in the Lounge again,

"Well, well, well," Nathan rubbed his hands together, "A quarter of a billion each eh? I suggest we get going, earn our pay and all that"

"Excuse me," it was Chloe, being more polite than normal, "Where do you think you are going?"

"I'm a Mercenary," he retorted without malice, "I don't think"

"Don't I know it," She rolled her eyes then looked at the other two, "Shall we plan what we are going to do before the Monkey with the Machine Gun," She indicated to Nathan who raised his hands disarmingly in the air, "Sets off in the wrong direction and rescues the wrong Girl?"

The shuttle, once a bomber, was well on its way to Outpost 4359 by the time Smithe managed to hack the military network and get a layout of the station.

It was small, built during some time called the Korr War, whatever the hell that may have been, and abandoned afterwords. Pirates had found it and maintained the life support systems for years until the Captain had sent in a team and killed them all. Since then, it had served as a bolt hole for the Burning Death and her crew. Just in case the Xiscapian authorties did get their thumbs out of their asses and catch up with them.
He smiled. Hadn't happened yet.
It was a three building outpost in a fenced in compound. The main building was square, with only one story above ground. Three more stories descended into the crust of the moon for soldiers to do Emperor knew what. It was a big building, and it was in the far left corner (relative to the position of the gate) of the compound.
A landing pad for orbital craft was to its right. Empty space, and probably where the mercs hired to take Smithe and his team out would land. Well, they would have some surprises for them waiting.
In the upper left was the Detection station. Lots of sensors and other tech crap. They wouldn't go in it except to set some high explosives.
Upper right was a barracks building. Same story as the vox building.
All the troops would be quartered in the main building, and it was from there that they would ambush and kill anybody who came.
There was an arms room which they would pilfer, but aside from that, all they had to do was wait.
Smithe closed his eyes and rested his head back against the uncomfortable seat as they drew closer to the station. They would be ready.

Kartosh just grinned at Nathan. The two shared similar strategies: Take the money and run, and shoot anything that moves.
"We should obtain maps of the compound on Outpost 4359," said Skyler, "stock up on munitions, put out word for any of the informants we have to keep an eye out for activity related to our target or the daughter and make for the moon with all haste-"

The door to the study opened and the servant came out, even though all four mercenaries could have sworn he had not been in there when they had left and had not entered past them as they were led out. "Sir Cuqa approves of your idea, Sir," he nodded to Nathan, "and requests the head of the man responsible on his desk. If this is not possible the whole corpse will do." He bowed again and backed into the office, closing the door.

There was a moment of silence.
"There is a problem," said Skyler quietly. "We will not be able to pilot both the Elixir of Life and the Star Snake to Outpost 4359 without alerting those there of the treachery. If they are waiting in true honesty with the girl, which I doubt, they will flee the moment they see more than one ship. If they are not there will not be a problem, but we can't afford to take that risk."

Kartosh looked at her, then sighed. Both ships were essentially the same, though not without subtle differences: The Star Snake was slightly larger than the Elixir, and better armed as far as he knew, but the Elixir was faster and not nearly as recognizable as the Star Snake. It would be a difficult choice.
"Before we decide, Chloe, you should get the maps and signal your own informants," said Skyler, watching Kartosh. "I'll alert ours and withdraw some cash, and the boys," she waved her hand over Kartosh and Nathan, "can get the guns, bombs, blades and whatever else they think is necessary. We should all meet back here again in one hour."

"Now you're singing my song little Missy," Nathan clapped his hands together, "I'll get enough guns to blow the whole moon sky high!" he laughed in delight at the prospect before looking at Chloe, who was shaking her head slowly.

"What?" he asked.

"Don't even think about getting that much weaponry," She warned, "Get a pair of everything and enough munitions to keep them firing. No more," She finished, looking at him.

"Fine," he sulked back, "I was only joking about the whole blowing the base up"

"I know that look, Nathaniel T. Barnes, you had every intention of blowing the place up, given half a chance"

"Okay, okay..." he was interrupted by the Servant who delivered the rather chilling message then left. Nathan looked after him in disbelief,
"Great. So now we need to get an axe as well? This ain't the Middle Ages. What's he gonna do with it? Stick it on a pole in his front garden? Or maybe put it on the front of his car? Actually..." He stopped to think for a moment.

"Nathan, focus" Chloe tapped him on the head to bring back to reality, "We'll meet back here in one hour. And for the love of Qonn Nathan, don't do anything stupid"

"You know me," Nathan grinned as he turned away

Chloe sighed as he left, "That's what worries me"

Forty-Five minutes later

Chloe was the first back to the Mansion with a small holopad in her hand. She had been working hard in the three quarters of an hour and had found enough information to get them off the ground anyway. She was unsure what Skyler would find and she dreaded to think of what Nathan would bring back but she sat in the front Garden and meditated quietly.

It was a little while before the others returned as well. Skyler first, before the hour as well. Nathan and Kartosh were sometime over the hour. She turned accusingly to face Nathan, who was dragging a large box behind him, leaving Kartosh to Skyler.

"Where have you been?"

"Shopping."

"You're ten minutes late"

"It was a big queue at the checkout"

"No it wasn't...can I smell beer?"

"Can you?"

"I can. You drunken lout, you knew we had to meet here within the hour and you decided to slake your thirst anyway"

"Something like that, yeah...I got the guns"

"What did you get?"

"Y'know. Usual. Knives, throwing daggers, pistols, grenades, rockets, rifles of all kinds, rocket launchers, missiles..."

"...missiles?"

"Only kidding"

"Right. Anyway" Chloe now turned to the other pair of Mercenaries and told them what she had learnt,
"This is a map of the base, I managed to get of an old contact in the Army. It's an old military area, from the Korr War but it was abandoned after the Korr Offensives and not retaken by the Alversians. There was a group of Mercenaries who had used it as their main base but they haven't been seen or heard off for weeks now. I guess our friend must have moved in and kicked them out"

"So the plan is to bust in, gun 'em down and rescue the girl right?" Nathan concluded quickly and happily.

"No."

"No?"

No," Chloe rolled her eyes before looking at Kartosh and Skyler, "What did you find out, Skyler?" She decided that any useful information would come from Skyler rather than Kartosh, who had probably joined Nathan in the bar at some point. If he had even bothered going to a bar.

As Kartosh approached Skyler looked him up and down. "Found something more interesting than weapons, did you?"
The mercenary shrugged innocently. "Who, me? What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the smell of liquor."
"Oh," he looked sheepish, "well, I know a nice bar in the area-"
"You would know a nice bar in the area if we were stranded on a damned asteroid!"
"Professional pride," Kartosh grinned. "Besides, I haven't had a drink since," he checked his chrono, "five hours ago, you know how I need my poison."
"If I were you I'd be more worried about me than what any drink could do to you."
"Well, I can walk in a straight line, it's not that bad, and we got the weapons!"
"What did you find?"
"Regular stuff. Shanks, throwing knives, pistols, grenades, a bunch of rifles, rocket launchers, some electro-staffs, a chain-gun..."
"You bought a chain-gun?!"
"Well, yeah, it strips down to easy to carry pieces, it'll fit right in our compartments, and it was on sale..."

"Well," Skyler responded to Chloe, "the same you did, although a few mentioned old Naval personnel, not XIN or APN but from some other nation somewhere, so we might be fighting ex-Marines or something. Other than that, either nothing or the same information you got."

"Have we decided which ship we're going to take?" asked Kartosh impatiently. "And how we going to do this, if we don't go in all guns blazing?"
"Quietly," answered Skyler, looking to Chloe and Nathan about the question of which ship would have to be left behind.

"I think we should take the Elixir," Chloe suggested while Nathan stared abscentmindedly at his nails, "It's small, faster and it has a cloak. We'll need a plan for getting through, they're bound to be expecting an ambush somewhere."

"How about...we..." Nathan was thinking hard, "strafe the building, put a couple of rockets into her from a distance then go in close and finish it off with rocket launchers..."

"And we get the girl out how?" Chloe chipped in, sighing as she did so. She was Nathan's voice of reason because, contrary to the opinions of criminals all over the galaxy who thought of him as a calculated genius, Nathan never thought more than five minutes in front of his own face. That was why she was here.

Nathan's face fell,
"Oh yeah," he replied sheepishly, "never mind"

"I think we should get close to the moon's surface and parachute either myself or Skyler with a sniper rifle. We can then walk to the perimeter and so avoid detection. The Korr wrecked the old scanners and stuff so they'll be out of action, enough anyway to let one of us stalk the fence. Another will sit in the ship and wait for a signal, at which case, he can support us from the ship, using the turrets. The other two, should make the exchange. What do you think?" Chloe asked around, looking from one to the other.

"How about..." Nathan was about to cut in when a look from Chloe silenced him, "Never mind," He sighed and went back to checking his nails.

"The Star Snake has cloaking!" said Kartosh in an almost insulted voice. "Besides, just because-" He seemed to be about to argue the decision before Skyler gave him a look, and he sighed and resigned himself to picking though the weapons in the crate.
"We can't count on the scanners and detection and surveillance systems being out of action," Skyler cautioned. "Chances are the pirates who used to hole up there had a early-warning system in case customs or pirate-hunting vessels got too close. And they might have repaired the systems, though I admit I doubt it. Still, we don't know if those there have been there for years, or only just got in a few minutes ago. For all we know they could have set up an AA turbolaser emplacement with droid patrols and state-of-the-art scanners, there are no current photos or schematics of the station and no one's been there for at least a decade. Otherwise Cuqa was told that the rep presenting the money should be unarmed, and since I think a female looks less threatening than a male, only either you or I should go." She looked to Chloe. "Based on experience and training, who is more proficient in unarmed, hand-to-hand combat, you or I?"

"I know we can't count on the sensors being offline," Chloe replied smoothly, "We can't rely on anything. Even these maps may be wrong, if our pirates were into their DIY and Interior Design. Caution is sometimes the better part of valour..." She was interrupted by a snort from Nathan. She twisted to face him, but he remained silent, giving her a stupid smile instead. She shook her head and returned to the point,
"I know the Star Snake has a cloak as well, but we can't just be seen to appear from nowhere can we when the ship lands. Plus, when they see your ship, they will know Cuqa has hired Mercenaries against his word. That will make things even harder than they are already."

She sighed and looked at Skyler, ignoring the two men who were starting to act like Chimps around a new toy, fiddling and messing about with their new guns,
"I like to think of myself as pretty good at martial arts but I don't know how I would compare with you. There isn't really a way to check is there?"

Skyler shrugged. "I don't know much about your background. I studied to be a teacher in martial arts, and I received further training in a PMC and from that guy," she jerked a thumb over his shoulder to Kartosh, who was examining a pistol. "Unless you think that's much better or way worse than whatever you got, we could try a friendly round of sparring." she suggested.

"Well, I was trained by my Father and his Family as well as the best Trainers that could be found on Xiscapia" Chloe shrugged, did they really have time to decide this now? Where they not on a mission? She could let Skyler do the drop but she suspected the difference between them would be negligable.
"We could just decide," She shrugged, "I mean, we should crack on with this as soon as possible. I'll volunteer if that's alright with you Skyler?"
She looked at the older Kitsune, waiting for her approval or denial of the request. She did not care either way. All she could think of was that poor Girl imprisioned and the desire to free her as soon as possible.

Yet another shrug, a lick of the lips. "Sure, but I bring it up because you might have to rely on that to save your ass if if they start shooting at you or things go truly bad. You have to be sure, I don't want your blood on my hands and we really can't afford to lose you. So the plan is I'll get dropped in with a sniper rifle and set up camp, Kartosh and Nathan will stay up in the ship and be ready to give us fire support with the turrets, and you'll make the exchange."

Kartosh flipped the blaster around with his finger though the trigger guard, obviously bored. "Can we get moving already?" he complained. Skyler grimaced. "That might be a good idea. We should load all this up onto the , we've got time but it don't want to keep the kidnappers waiting too long."
OOC: TG

"I can handle myself," Chloe confirmed firmly but also gently, like she was trying to convince a Coach that she had the talent for the game, "I know what to do and I've done it at least a hundred other times. So long as you're in position with Nathan and Kartosh in the turrets, than I'll be fine"
Nathan by this stage was messing about with one of his guns, aiming it at random items and pulling the trigger. With the safety on, there was no reaction but he continued to aim at trees, birds, passers-by, anything really, to keep himself amused. He only came to when it was proposed they move. This was more to Nathan's liking,

"That's more like it," he confirmed, swinging the gun back into the bag he was carrying, "Let's get on the road, we can work on the details from there"

Chloe sighed at him and nodded, agreeing for one with his strategy. She wanted to have this mission over and done with as soon as possible. After all, she was to be the one in the firing line,
"Shall we get aboard?" She indicated to the Elixir.

"Yes," Skyler responded shortly as Kartosh began lugging the weapons crate up the ramp to the interior of the vessel. They would equip themselves on the way, it was only a matter of a couple of minutes travel to reach the moon from Xiscapia. In truth Skyler would have preferred to simply get into orbit over the moon and beam the entire party down into the midst of the enemy, but chances were such a manuver would be foiled by the use of counter-beaming devices, plus the fact that if they couldn't get accurate bio readings they could come into a room full of baddies and get fryed or filled with more lead than Chinese-based paint. Besides, as Kartosh would have said, where was the fun in that?

Soon they were aboard the Elixir of Life. Although not as big as the Star Snake, it held them all comfortably, with more than enough room for them to plan a strategy and arm themselves for the coming mission. Only three would be armed, for Chloe was prohibited from carrying weapons to the Meeting. She did not know if that included her katana but she would be long dead in the ground before she left that behind her. She would not leave that. Everything else fine, but not that.

Nathan was piloting the ship as always, with Chloe beside him in the cockpit, tapping various commands into various panels to make the ship do something seemingly unimportant,
"Cloaking," She stated as she tapped another button. A flash later and they were invisble to sight and sensor alike. Chloe sat back, satisfied, while Nathan grunted his disapproval,
"Don't like cloaks," He explained to Chloe again, "Where's the challenge in a fight if the enemy don't see you coming?"

Chloe just replied with a roll of her eyes and moved back into the main hold of the ship, complete with two cots for sleeping and a rudimentary kitchen for cooking. There was also a tablecomplete with four chairs. It was here that Kartosh, Skyler and the weapons were based.
"Right," She said, sitting down on one of the cots, "Before the Ape puts the ship into autopilot, what's the plan?" Skyler had spent their brief trip looking at the plans.

It was a very good thing that the Elixer of Life was a cloaked vessel; on the outpost, a man portable-and therefore not particularly powerful-sensor was scanning the space around the moon, looking for life. Smithe walked over to the mercenary operating the system.
"Anything?" He asked. The man just shook his head.
"No, sir. Sunzabitches havn't gotten here yet."
"You sure?" The grizzled merc smiled.
"Nothin gettin past me, boss. Youze pay me well for a reason." Smithe just looked at him.
"Yes, we do. And you know the captain's policy on those who stop earning their keep." The smile slid from the mercenaries face like oil on water.
"Yeah. I do."
"Keep that in mind. Your life rests upon whether or not you see something." The officer walked out into the hard light of the setting sun, frost crunching beneath his boots. He frowned as he looked at the skyline. Darkness was not their friend, now.
He had brought thirty mercenaries with him to this emperor-forsaken outpost. Thirty scumbags, dirtballs, and soldiers of fortune who were willing to kill for work. He had five of them in the watchtower that soared three stories above the main outpost building, and the other twenty five were in the main building with assorted small arms and a few heavier pieces.
Five of the troops he had brought with him were not mercenaries at all. Though they had removed their purple armor, the men assigned to protect Smithe himself were former members of the Praetorian Guard, the Emperor's own shocktroops. Well trained and with iron discipline, they were the only soldiers on the field he trusted would do their jobs well. He and his guards would be in the abandoned sensor station when the action went down.
Mines littered the landing zone. High explosives laced the buildings. Rockets were emplaced in the tower. Whoever went down there would die horribly.
Smithe grinned. He couldn't wait.

"Qonn," muttered Kartosh, looking around, "it's like you took the blueprints for the Star Snake and designed this ship after them. Hell, the only thing missing is the holographic table," he rapped a fist on the table and went back to strapping, holstering, sheathing or fitting weapons and ammunition to his body. Skyler sighed from the table. "We need to make the initial run cloaked, I assume because you suggested it you have a parachute and a bodysuit I can take with me, I'll get a rifle from the crate and set myself up. This will be the most dangerous part of the operation, if they see us then they'll be completely ready when we're most vulnerable and in an awkward position. Once we get past the ship should land you you'll come out. If the turrets can be concealed they need to be, we should lure them into a false sense of security and come out blasting and catch them unsuspecting if need be, if the turrets can deploy fast enough. Finally I think we should either have only one person manning the guns, or have them computer-controlled, and have someone at the controls of the ship. If we need to made a quick break for it we don't want to hang around while someone gets to the cockpit, and especially not if either you or I are pinned down by fire and need rescue or the ship need a different vantage point for the field of fire."

"I'm concerned with the actual exchange. You'll need to be quick, if the girl is really here we can't do anything to endanger her, but if not you'll need to remove yourself to a defensible position and out of the field of fire from my rifle and the turrets. They could kill you very easily during the exchange, and we won't be able to do anything about it until after you've either died or done something to prevent your death, you'll be on your own and relying on yourself. I'll do my best to cover your back before the turrets are up and ready, but I can't guarantee anything. Finally, on our first run we need to get a clear look at the base. If there is too many goons there, if there are any heavy weapons, if they have anything like tanks, mechanized infantry suits or weapons platforms, if they have any combat vessels, we'll need to rethink our strategy before going down."

"Hey, my ship's two years older than your Star Snake, thank you very much," Nathan yelled in from the cockpit while Chloe listened to the plan. She absorbed every detail, nodding in approval at a few occasions than took up the conversation where Skyler had left off, there were questions to be answered and only she could answer them. Nathan had no idea where half his stiff was. it ws always up to Chloe to make sure that they had the correct weapons at the correct time for each mission.

"With regards to a parachute and body suit, there is one in that locker behind you," She indicated to the metal locker behind the pair of Kitsune mercenaries, "The suit is Black Ops, undetectable by conventional sensors s, unless you fall out of it, they won't see you land. Both the turrets on the Elixir are remotely operated so we have no problems there. They can be hidden and turned on with ease, helps with getting around customs you understand. We have the sensors to scan the base before we make the exchange to see what they are hiding and where it is. I think we should come out of cloak about now and let them see us. That way, there'll be no nasty surprises when we do turn up. I can handle myself."
She finished the same why she had started the previous conversation. She would carry her katana and the briefcase, nothing more. She would be completely in the hands of the attackers, or so they would think.

"Even better," Nathan had appeared from the cockpit, having put the ship in autopilot, he was grinning and carrying his shotgun with him as always. His own sabre bumped along the ground as he sat next to Chloe, "The whole ship has an internal layer of scanner proof material. Helps when we're smuggling items across the galaxy under the nose of the Customs men. They won't know how many men we have aboard or what weapons. It may be sneaky," He said dismissively, "But I'll be happy once battle is joined"

"Battle may not need to be joined" Chloe warned beside him.

"Of course it will," Nathan dismissed her instantly, "It always does. When it does, me and Dutchess," he patted his shotgun, "Have a few things to say to them"

"Don't be stupid here, Nathan," the Kitsune warned, "Don't do anything rash"

"When have I ever done anything that could possibly be considered rash?" He raised his eyebrows innocently while Chloe sighed and looked at the other two.

"All set with the plan?"

"When have I ever done anything that could possibly be considered rash?"
"Almost everything!" Kartosh chortled from his seat, fully equipped. "And let's not get into another argument about ship stats, everyone in the Known Galaxy knows," he rolled his eyes upwards in exaggeration, "that the Star Snake is the best damned smuggling ship around."

Skyler ignored both of them. "It's all good, the only thing is Nathan," she looked directly at him, "you realize, you jump the gun, you could be endangering all of us, especially Chloe and the girl, if she is there. As much as I don't want Chloe's blood on my hands, I'd rather not die over your ADD impulses you're so famous for. So keep it down, keep it quiet until things go wrong, which I have a feeling they will, and once the battle starts you can blast away to your heart's content."

"Ha!" Nathan laughed at Kartosh, "I could find you a thousand experts who say the Elixir is better all round than any other..."

""Shut it, you two!" It was Chloe who snapped at them both and Nathan quickly fell silent, "You know this is me that's being risked here? One little slip up from any of us and I'm as good as dead. You know that Nathan. Please, please, don't do anything stupid. Stay quiet until I need help" She looked sombrely into his eyes, trying to be serious and, for once, saw serious in reply from her Partner.

Nathan nodded firmly, only when it came to Chloe's safety did he stop clowning around and take things seriously. Now was such a time. He nodded again and patted his gun,
"When you call. We'll come-a-running" He smiled comfortingly at her then wheeled back around to Kartosh,
"Where were we? Oh yes! The Elixir is superior in both manourverability and Speed to anything in the known and unknown galaxies..."

Chloe turned back to face Skyler and shook her head, allowing their arguement to fade into the background,
"How, Skyler?" She smiled, "How do we put up with them?"

"Hah! There's where you're wrong!" cried Kartosh. "How could you know what ships they have in unknown galaxies? In hyperdrive my baby is a point five on the scale, and her sublight speeds have outrun APN XX-40 fighters and I once slipped though a seven foot gap between two colliding asteroids to outrun Xiscapian Customs..."

"I don't know," Skyler shrugged helplessly. "It's not like we're dependent on them or anything." she lied, knowing that she would be drifting aimlessly without Kartosh, and she knew he would probably be in so much debt and trouble if she left him that he would be constantly on the run from half the collective police, customs, criminal and military elements in the entire Alliance...

"No, you're wrong!" Nathan announced triumphantly, "Mine is Point Seven on the scale and I can not only outrun the XX-40 fighters, I can outrun their damned custom ships as well. And I don't need to manouver through comets cause I'm smart enough to go around them...sometimes..."

"I know, I know, I guess they need us as their common sense," Chloe smiled, knowing that she would be as lost as Skyler without Nathan. By the same measure, he would probably be dead without her. She owed him big time and besides, it just wouldn't be the same without the idiot by her side with his shotgun. She would pushed to her limit by this mission.

"You expose your ignorance!" Kartosh laughed. "Point five is better than point seven, any fool knows that! The Star Snake is good enough to outrun any ship, and those it can't would seriously regret catching up with it." he grinned.

"Yes...there's no way either of them would survive if we weren't here," Skyler smiled, "some never grow up."
"So how close are we to the moon, anyway? I'd probably better start getting ready."

"In YOUR system of Hyperdrive perhaps," Nathan scoffed, "In the Alversian System, a Mark VII Hyperdrive is better than a Mark V which is what you have. We are the better ship and you know it..."

"...shut up Nathan," Chloe sighed and looked over into the cockpit, "We're getting close. You'd better take us out of cloaking."

"Fine," Nathan instantly forgot the arguement and headed into the cockpit. With a flash, the Elixir appeared back into space above the moon.

Chloe looked at Skyler and sighed,
"You're right. They never grow up," She gave a small laugh before nodding, "You'd better start getting ready"

"We've upgraded since the last time..." Kartosh muttered stubbornly, refusing to give it up until Skyler kicked him in the shin, upon which he shut up. She got the suit out of the locker, changing unashamed in front of them from her normal clothes into the body glove, armor and helmet. From what she could tell they were over the night side of the little moon, and was grateful for both her own natural nocturnal vision and the bio signature HUD the visor provided. She reached in and extracted the sniper rifle, admiring it.
"The Xuqa sniper rifle, 50 cal, 57 inches long, total with a barrel length of 29 inches, unloaded weight of approximately 28 and a half pounds, a magazine capacity of 10 rounds, magazine weight 4.12 pounds, muzzle velocity 2,800 feet a second, a maximum range of 7,450 yards and a maximum effective range of 2,000 yards, equipped with armor-piercing rounds and infrared night vision scope," reeled out Kartosh, stroking the rifle as Skyler held it. "A truly fine weapon."

"Once you stop lusting over the weapons," said Skyler shortly, jerking the rifle away and slamming in a magazine, "you'll get on the damn turrets and be ready to cover our asses. Hey Nathan," these last two words were a shout to the cockpit, "how does it look down there?" Skyler needed to know, she strapped on the parachute, fully equipped now, rifle fitting onto her back broken into a couple of component parts. If she was going to make the jump, it would be very soon.

"Dark!" Nathan called back, "Cold! Miserable! Stop me if I'm saying anything negative!"

"Nathan!" Chloe shouted in from the main body of the ship. She had looked on impressively at the sniper rifle before giving a non-commital shrug. It was good, but she liked hers better, the combination sniper rifle, anti-tank gun and shotgun. A gun for all occasions, she liked to think. Nothing in the world would convince her to change it. Nothing, not even Nathan. She had the hardest mission of them all. To stand in front of those hardened criminals, unarmed, and hand them a load of money. Then again, she had volunteered.

"Console's there, Kartosh," Chloe indicated to a chair, complete with VR headset and a pair of VR Gloves that were wired into the chair, they were also wired up to a large box in the corner, "It controls the Turrets from here. We feel it's less of a risk to control it from here than actually in the turret. It'll also pick the most dangerous targets for you and track them. All you have to do it point and shoot"
She smiled as Nathan called in again from the cockpit.

"We're gonna come in fast Skyler! At about 5,000 ft! You'd better get ready!"

Chloe stood by the ramp at the bottom of the ship, preparing to open and close it once Skyler was gone.

Smithe was standing outside, enjoying the sinking of the sun. It never occured to him it may be his last. His vox beeped.
"Sir, contact just appeared. Coming in hard and fast."
"What the hell do you mean 'just appeared?' If I remember correctly, you lazy asshole, you were supposed to be watching for anything inbound!" Even over the vox, Smithe could feel the mercenaries fear.
"Sir, I have been! It must have been cloaked or something, it just showed up now!" Smithe grimaced.
"Fine. I'll deal with your pathetic skills later. Sound the alarm and go to your preplanned combat station."
If the mercenary had a brain, he would know it was an empty threat. If this went off, nothing would happen to him. If it didn't, then they would all die anyway.
A siren, left over from before the station was abandoned, rang out three times. The mercs hurried over to their battle stations.
Three heavy machine guns and two anti-orbit rockets were in the outpost tower. They had orders not to engage until they were sure where the money was. The remaining mercs formed up on the ground floor, small arms locked and ready.
Smithe walked calmly to his station. He wondered what kind of killers Cuqa had bought, and then decided it didn't matter. They had them cold regardless.

"You got it!" Kartosh strapped himself into the chair, donning the VR gloves and headset. He was careful, though, not to deploy the turrets, and turned in his seat to watch Skyler. His beautiful kitsune partner stood near the ramp, fully suited and ready to go. She smiled at him as she fitted the helmet over her head, sealing it, and grabbed the parachute. Technically it was not, in fact, a parachute, such a thing being too loud and easily detectable. No, this was about the size of a personal computer, a anti-gravity projector which would allow her to drift the last few dozen feet to the ground. From the moment she stepped off the ship, Skyler knew she would be on her own, and if things went bad it would be her job to take out the biggest threats until Kartosh could get the turrets out and blasting.

The ship broke atmosphere and it was time to go. Chloe lowered the ramp and howling wind shot though the ship before a force field came into place, separating Skyler from the others. She saluted, faceless behind the helmet, nodded, and stepped into space.
The Xiscapian dropped, in free fall, arms twisted out near her head as though about to put them behind her head, knees bent, a traditional style. She heard nothing, the suit was completely sealed and pressurized, it had to be at near airless heights like this, but she knew the wind was rushing past at extreme speeds. The suit was made out of a material that would essentially render her invisible, not to the naked eye but to scanners and sensors, simply not noticing her as they were bounced back, reading nothing.

Seeing the complex Skyler angled herself towards it, aiming outside the rusting perimeter fence. She activated the anti-grav and floated down, settling easily. Clipping the thing back onto her belt she did a quick check to make sure there were no patrols near here, then took off and assembled her rifle. Assuming a cautious, stalking posture she found an outcropping some twenty feet from the perimeter, lying prone on the rocks, staring though the scope at the base. She began to speak, relaying everything those in the ship already knew and some information they did not.

"Three buildings, main bunker building one story high probably more sunken, down under the rock. Tower coming up from the center, I count one, two, three, five men, armed, they've probably got machine guns or rocket turrets up there, I don't see any sharpshooters. Across the compound I see the landing pad, to the right, and to the upper left from the main building there's what I think is a detection building, doesn't look to be occupied. Upper right across is a barracks, seems abandoned, but the door is open, they probably pilfered weapons and equipment from the armory if there were any left from the war. Looks like your arrival has gotten them stirred up a bit, I can see a some of 'em in the main building thought the gun ports, they're all waiting for ya. No, wait, shit! There's some in the detection building too, I just saw someone walk past. Damn, there could be anywhere from fifteen to forty baddies here, maybe more under the main building and hidden in the other buildings around the facility. We've got our work cut out for us. I'll keep a bead on the tower, they've got some heavies up there, I'll take 'em out as soon as I get the signal."

Elixer of Life...
In the cockpit the communications screen flickered as a encrypted message made it's way though. The trace, if they bothered, would lead back to Xiscapia, and when opened would reveal a few lines of text:

Money case contains bomb.
Bomb powerful enough to collapse hardened structure.
Will be detonated remotely when we deem it to be ready.
Place case strategically.
-Cuqa
The money case, when examined, would be found to be unopenable without a key card. The key card had been supplied, but when used it would not work. The case was made of a extremely expensive, rare metal that made it resistant to all scans, so one would not be able to know of it's contents until the bomb was detonated.

"Package away!" Chloe shouted to Nathan in the cockpit once Skyler was gone. That was their code for the Elixir to maintain a more traditional speed and landing speed in order to bring her down to the arranged spot. She would not have been invisible for the past few moments but Skyler would have been, plus there was nothing out of the ordinary. Alversian ships regularly entered an unknown atmosphere at speed as it was landing that the vast Merchant ships were at their most vulnerable. For now though, they were safe within the atmosphere and it would only be a few seconds before they knew if Skyler had made it or not.

She had and, over a secure channel that the Elixir possessed, scrambling the frequency to all other radios and there making it sound like nothing more than interference. Chloe listened keenly to Skyler's report, making mental notes of where she thought everything was and where she should be keeping an eye out for and what it was. She frowned at the mention of machine guns and rockets, but that would be Nathan's trouble, for they would surely aim for the Elixir once it had landed. She had her own concerns and he had his.

Then a pinging noise came through from the Cockpit to indicate that a message had been recieved. The message was double and trebled checked for traces, for there was no such thing as an innocent message to a Mercenary. Nathan was quiet in the cockpit, working the controls of his beloved craft. There was a time for joking around and there was time for seriousness. Most of the time, he could tell the difference.

"Uh, Chloe?" He called in from the cockpit, "Something you may be interested in here"

"Patch it through," She replied, then watched as the centre of the main compartment lit up like a giant holoboard. When it did, the green writing was easily readable. Chloe took one look at it, then at the casing beneath her chair.

"Good Qonn," She swore, staring at it in a combination of wonder and shock, "Damn all to hell and fire Nathan!" She said it all in one fluent sentence, "We have a new tool onboard!"

It was a part of Chloe and Nathan's code, for if they were ever captured they would be able to communicate vital information without giving anything away to telepaths or people who could read body language.

"What is it?" He asked, leaning back from the cockpit, where they were beginning their landing run.

"A bomb"

"Damn it!"

"My thoughts exactly"

"What do we do with it?"

"Deliver it, I suppose"

"You want to bring a bomb to a meeting of gunmen?"

"Why not? It's the sort of thing you would do"

"...true. We're about ready to land anyway" He settled the Elixir down on the main landing pad, external panelling preventing anyone from scanning the ship for either weapons or crew numbers. The Elixir was the perfect smugging vessel, "Ready to go?" He asked her with concern.

Chloe gave a small nod, took a deep breath and grabbed the briefcase. Nathan was already sitting with his back to Kartosh, manning the other turret as well as the Missile lock. Chloe waited for the ramp to open before she took another breath and walked out into the black night.

Instantly, she could see what Skyler was talking about. Some of the Mercenaries were not very well hidden and stuck out like sore thumbs on the tops of the buildings. It did not matter, for she was along with nothing more thna her katana and a bomb in a briefcase for company. She reached the middle of the open ground, taking quick notes to herself. She edged right for a second, then paused.

She set the briefcase down and prepared to wait for someone to come to her.

Pop. The all-ready signal came from the mercs in the tower, a simple flick of a microbead.
Pop. Those were the troops in the lower building. Smithe nodded, tense...and then smiled when a female got out of the craft.
Of all of his faults, and he had many, his worst by far was that Commander Smithe hated women. And like so many of the things we hate, he constantly underestimated them.
"Don't shoot. I'll take care of this." He left the building behind her and started to walk in her direction. "Cover me." Missile tubes trained on the ship, clearly visible to Skyler from her overwatch position.
"Hello, girly." Smithe called across the field. "I believe you have something of mine."

Chloe, with her more powerful night vision and the blessing of better sight, saw both beads to indicate something. What they indicated, she did not care, for the presence of the lights themselves proved that there was more than two people in this base. More than she was probably ready for as well. She shivered slightly in her tank top, a favourite of hers that revealed her slender midriff to anyone who may have been looking. She was shivering slightly in the cold of the night as well. She would pretend that was what it was. Nothing to do with nerves at all. She was calm and cool under this pressure. The couple of dozen rifles aiming at her head were of no concern to her, apparently.

She trusted Nathan's piloting skills in the Elixir. She trusted Kartosh with the turrests and she trusted Skyler with the sniper rifle. However, the fact remained that she was along in the dark looking at a newly arrived hostile who appeared from somewhere in the main building and was now staring at her and the briefcase alternatively.

Chloe took a deep breath, handily disguised by the dark, and noticed that he was coming no nearer. What was in between them that stopped him coming forwards? However she had the presence of mind to shout out,

"I want to see the Girl first. Unharmed. This is an exchange is it not?" the beautiful Kitsune raised her eyebrows. Although the gesture was unseen by him, the confidence of her voice did steady her a bit. Her tail was wrapped around her to try and keep some warmth in and her top ears flickered with every miniscule sound she heard.

"Of course it is," he replied smoothly. He continued walking towards her in an even, unhurried pace. "But you don't even see the girl until we get the money. That is how it is going to work, I'm afraid." His hand rested on the butt of the pistol holstered at his waste.
Weak, he thought contemptuously. Using her tail for warmth. Dressed like a whore. I'll enjoy killing this slut. The thought was angry, spiteful, and full of hatred.
"I'll make it clear, girly. There are two options available here. Option one is that you give me the case, I give you the girl, and we all leave happily. Option two is I order my men to kill you all, and pry that case from your frozen corpse."

He stopped walking towards her a mere fifteen paces away.

"Your choice."

Chloe inched a little to the left again, seemingly uncomfortable with the pace at which he was advancing towards her. She seemed to think for a while, the briefcase never leaving her hand and her eyes never leaving him as he moved forward. After a long pause, in which only her breath misting in front of her indicated that she was still there, she gave a small nod,
"The case is sealed with a keycard," She explained as she held the case up, "It is locked by a beacon in my ship. When my vessel, with the girl onboard, gets a certain distance from the key then it will unlock and can be used to open the case. Simple system really," She offered a small smile, revealling her canine teeth.
She threw the case forward so it landed at his feet. It settled heavily in the dirt and remained lifeless.
"The girl?" Chloe asked again, eyes narrowing at the man as his hand strayed to his pistol.

Smithe smiled as the case settled into the dirt. He looked at it a moment before looking back up. He stared at her a moment before raising his left hand to his earpiece.
"The girl? I'll show you the girl. Take them now!" He bellowed the last part, and his hand darted to his pistol. The mercenaries rose up from behind their defenses, guns ready, and the troops in the tower hurried to prime their missile weapons.

The Praetorians did not move and stayed low, keeping to cover.

The foreplay as she ran the scope along the heat that indicated bodies, playing imagined death across the limbs, dancing her way this way and that. She settled down onto the one closest to Chloe, and by now she knew all the intricacies of the scar on his face, every mole and any birthmark, every bead of sweat, every tiny hair, and even his dead, icy eyes. She could hear them speaking, tensing, and then a loud shout and the twisting pleasure of the climax as she pulled the trigger-
Crack.
The bullet shot down the barrel and spun out, flying though the space between Skyler and the thug in a fraction of a second, before he was even able to fully draw his pistol. The slug entered perfectly, directly though the left eye, her target's head exploding apart like an overripe fruit, a pink mist left floating in the air, but she had no time to admire her work. Skyler turned her attention to the tower, letting off another, less precise and more reactionary, shot. It probably wouldn't hit any of the men in the tower, but it might make them put their heads down and give her precious seconds to find them again though her scope.

Elixer of Life...
Kartosh deployed the turrets, the large automatic weapons swiveling as he targeted the main building. The Xiscapian didn't know the power of the turrets, whether they were purely anti-personnel or could punch holes though concrete walls. With a grin on his face he let loose, red bolts screaming over Chloe's head to the compound, seeking to fly though the gun holes but settling to, like Skyler, make them keep their heads down until Chloe was safe.
OOC: Set, if you didn't plan on your guy dying so fast I'll edit to say Skyler missed or something.

Chloe saw him open his mouth, drawing in the air and she knew what would be coming. She quickly rolled to her left, behind a low wall. She had been edging it slowly towards it, preparing for the moment when it would all set off. She was safely behind the wall when Kartosh opened fire with the turrets. The laser fire from the turret was powerful enough to punch holes twice the size of a football in the concrete walls, that was even before Nathan came into play.

As soon as the Thugs appeared, Nathan had leapt into the cockpit and fired up the engines for the vessel. He managed to shoot into the air as a series of missiles from the building exploded on the ground where the Elixir had been sitting. Now though, it was hovering in the air and firing it's four main cannon, each exploding with more force and penetration than any tank shell and at the pace of a machine gun. The buildings were being shredded by the combined fire from the Elixir. All Chloe could do was crouch behind the wall and wait for it to be over.

ooc:It's fine, but this is a different guy than the one with the scar.
IC:

Smithe dropped, his skull smoking from the massive wound to his cranium, his pistol not even drawn yet. The mercs in the outpost did indeed duck, flinching as their leader was horribly killed.
Unfortunately for them, it was just enough time for the Elixer to power up its guns.
Of the twenty five mercs in the main building, twelve died immediately. The rest let off a few shots, but the death of five more of their comrades forced them to retreat in fear. Only one made it to the rear exit, and he started booking it towards a hole cut in the wire.
The mercs in the tower had slightly more luck. Both rockets banged off at the ship, spiraling almost lazily, before Smithe had died. The machineguns barely had time to aim.
The sheer volume of firepower at the facility caused the tower to start to lean, followed by the loud pong noises made when a high-tension cable comes under stress. It was all the warning the mercs had as the tower collapsed in a massive pile of debris, followed by a fireball as all the ammo cooked off.

The Praetorians were not so easily dispatched, however.

Bellowing war cries and firing their fully automatic weapons from the hip, the Emperor's Elite entered the fray. Three of them chucked grenades at the hovering ship; the rest continued to blast at Chloe...at an angle from which she had no cover. They hurried forward, blood on their minds.

The grenades of the Praetorians were useless against the Elixir. Against a unarmoured target, they would be devastating to all within the blast radius. However, against the armour of the Mercenary vessel, designed to deflect everything from fighter blasts to ion cannons, there was little they would do it. In fact, Nathan did not feel a thing. What he did see though, where the Praetorians closing in on Chloe's position. They were in the open as they ran towards the Kitsune Mercenary, who was now running towards the Elixir with all haste. He fired at them.

Chloe could feel the explosions around her as she ran. The Mercenary could see the Praetorians chasing her and their fire mixed with the fire from the Elixir. She felt a bullet hiss just past her ear as she got closer and closer to Nathan and safety. The ramp was already down, facing away from the Kitsune in order to offer her protection from the chasing Mercenaries. She managed to dive forward into the ramp and ran into the warm and safe compartment of the Elixir. They were now protected from the worst of the Praetorian fire and, after tapping Kartosh on the shoulder, took up a position behind him and manned the second turret, adding it's fire to that of Kartosh's turret and the Elixir's main guns and rockets.

"That went well!" Nathan shouted from the cockpit, enjoying himself immensely.

As the Praetorians closed in or were forced to take cover from the fire, they neglected to notice the case still on the ground. Skyler had just targeted another of the men when the brilliant explosion flared though her scope, momentarily blinding her. The case detonated spectacularly, a wash of fire spreading along the ground at about four feet high for a good twenty feet, knocking anyone unfortunate enough to be in the way off their feet and burning them horribly. Skyler ducked for a moment, coming back up to survey the damage, firing at anyone still standing on his feet. She had noticed the last man running for it out of the fence, and quickly dismissed him from her mind. He could easily be hunted down and killed later, if they wanted to bother at all.

Kartosh had again turned the turret to see if there were anymore of the enemy to be killed, but the explosion threw dirt and smoke in front of the turret lens and by the time it had cleared he had to re-orient himself to see if there was anyone still left.

OCC: Hey, im back everyone ^^, what have i missed? TG me Xiscapia for anything i need to get to.
OCC2: this will be deleted shortly.

Two of the Praetorians were vaporized by the heavy fire from the ship's turrets. The second and third were then immolated by the suitcase bomb, but the fifth, who had been on the edge of the explosion, somehow survived. Barely burned thanks to his heavy armor and his natural instinct to dive for cover, he was knocked unconcious by the secondary blasts, and he lay covered in the remains of his friends. His sleeves bore the three chevrons and two rockers of a Sergeant First Class.

As the smoke and dust cleared it was obvious no one was left to fight them. Skyler lowered the rifle, grinning. "We got 'em," she whispered as she started to walk back to the ship, slipping though a hole blasted in the fence as she made her way though the compound. On the Elixir Kartosh gave a loud whoop. "Yeah! Take that, ya bastards! Can't kill us, we're the indestructible mercenaries!"

Nathan whooped as well, grinning at the sight as he set the Elixir down on the ground again. He left the cockpit and came back into the compartment as Skyler returned via the open ramp. He 'high-fived' Kartosh as he got up off the turrets and laughed at Chloe, slumped in one of the chais, panting heavily. Beads of sweat feel gently from her forehead and her cheat heaved.
"Enjoy that did you?" He laughed again at her. In reponse, the Kitsune merely trembled from the combination of fright and exhilaration,
"Bloody hell," She said in reponse, "Qonn damn it all to hell and fire for all eternity..."

Nathan s******ed at his Partner's combined curse/prayer and turned to the other two,
"Now what?"

"Hey," Skyler's voice came in from outside. "One of these thugs is still alive...strange, this doesn't look like their usual garb." The kitsune appeared dragging what at first appeared to be a badly burned corpse up the ramp. "He's unconscious, but," she gestured to the armor the Praetorian wore, covered in burn marks, dirt, blood and gore, "this doesn't look like you standard black market body armor."

Kartosh examined the human. "Looks to me like some kind of Royal Guard uniform or something," he muttered, scrapping some of the soot off the insignia. "Tough armor, to have survived that blast...hey, three chevrons and two rockets. Does any of this mean anything to either of you?" he asked Chloe and Nathan. Skyler pointed outside. "There's another two of them out there, dead, and I think there's the remains of another one or two with the same armor, it's kind of hard to tell..."

Chloe was still too busy trying to control her breathing to take much notice of the armour, merely waving in Skyler's direction to indicate that she had no idea what it was nor, at the moment, did she really care. All she wanted to do was knock back a strong drink and wonder if a quarter of a billion was worth getting shot again. She wondered again why she was with Nathan and not her aristocratic family. She came to the same conclusion as always. Life would just be so dull without him in her life. She knew it, he knew it. They both knew it.

Nathan looked at the armour frowning. He gave it a light tap to see what it was made of, then made a small noise to indicate that he was impressed by it's construction,
"Good piece of kit that," He nodded to the armour, then looked at the man laying unconcious within the armour, "He's not an average grunt anyway, based by the way he charged out into the open on Chloe's flank..."

"...don't remind me," The Kitsune groaned from the table in reply.

"So I would guess," Nathan ignored her and carried on, "That he be a member of some elite force from somewhere in the big wide galaxy. Three chevrons usually denotes a Sergeant in any force while I think the two other little things would make him a kind of...superior...Sergeant" Nathan shrugged, "Anyway, the point remains, where are we going from here?"

Sergeant First Class (http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Graphics/SFC.gif) Hef Inigo slowly came to, ears ringing from the blast. He was flat on his back and had no idea where he was. Conversation came to him as though he were underwater, and vission was blurred. He let loose a low groan.

"Hey, the bastard's awake," Kartosh swung over in his seat and pressed a rifle against the back of the man's head. "You guys have twine, plasma cuffs, rope, anything?" he asked as Skyler bent down to check on how their former enemy was doing. "We should question him. He'll know where he came from, and that might be the next link in the chain, or, if we're lucky, the end of this little hunt."

Nathan nodded and grabbed a pair of plasma cuffs from a small compartment in the main roof of the Elixir. He handed them to Kartosh,
"Help yourself," He smiled as he went over to check on Chloe who was only now managing to control her breathing. She looked over at their prisoner with considerable dislike,
"Do what you want with him," She managed to say, "I don't care"

Kartosh slapped the cuffs on the wrists of the man, putting them behind his back, and backing the soldier up against a bulkhead before stepped back, rifle lowered, and sitting down himself, watching their prisoner. Skyler watched too with considerably more interest. When he regained full conciousness they would have many things to speak of...

Slowly, Inigo regained feeling throughout his body. Almost grudingly, his mind reported that he was cuffed. He blearily focused on the kitsune in front of him.
"Where...where am I? What the hell happened?"

"Hell did happen, my friend, and to answer your second question, you're not there...yet," Kartosh grinned. Skyler stepped in. "We need to know who you are, why you're here, where you came from and who sent you." she said shortly. "Otherwise I'll blow your bloody bollocks off."

"Well," Nathan stated happily from his seat, sitting and watching the two Xiscapian Mercenaries with interest. Nathan rarely tortured but then he rarely had to. He turned in time to see that Chloe was giving the man a look of such hatred that it was enough to make him melt. Nathan gave a small whistle,
"I would do as they say Mate," Nathan said cheerily, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Or shot at in this case"

At those words, memory snapped back to Inigo in a flash. He shook his head again to clear it and met the Xiscapians' gaze levelly.
"Sergeant First Class Hef Inigo, 193-89-4348." He bared his teeth at her.
"You won't get anything from me, you halfbreed bitch."

Skyler grinned right back, lights of the Elixir shining off her pointed canines. "We'll see," she said darkly, nodding to Kartosh. The other kitsune approached the man with a gag and blindfold, stuffing the gag in his mouth and tying the blindfold around his eyes. He was then rolled to the edge of the ramp. "Nathan, would you be so good as to take us up about seventy feet?" Skyler called to the Alversian. Kartosh was standing by their prisoner, one foot on his side to keep him from rolling off, a mischievous glitter in his yellow eyes.

"Of course," Nathan headed back up to the cockpit and, within moments, the Elixir had shot up to the seventy feet required and was hovering there quite easily, supported by the autopilot. Nathan returned in time to see Chloe get up and walk to the Prisoner. Without a word, she aimed a boot into his side with all her force, hearing it connect with sickening force,
"You bastard" She muttered before sitting down again. She stared darkly at the lying figure while Nathan cleaned his shotgun.

"Now," Skyler whispered to Nathan in the cockpit, "take us down to about five feet above the surface. But don't make it obvious, try to make it seem as though we haven't moved."

Kartosh turned Inigo over to he was almost hanging over the lip of the ramp, curled around the place where Chloe had kicked. "So the answers to the questions," he shouted though the wind howling past, "care to give them up yet?" His foot was the only thing preventing the man from dropping away into space.

"Sure thing," Nathan whispered back and gave a small wink. With a single tap on his console, the Elixir began to slowly descend. There was no noise and no indication of this, it was just gently falling.

Inigo grunted when he got kicked, feeling one of his ribs break.
He was a very tough man, and he could have taken that. As a matter of fact, he was trained to resist physical torture in all of its many forms, as well as psychological...in theory.

Unfortunately, every man has a pet terror, and his were heights. He swallowed heavily.

"Holy Emperor! Alright! Alright! What do you want to know?"

"Awww," Kartosh seemed almost disappointed. "You cracked before we got to the good part. Anyway," he dragged the bound and gagged man back further into the ship, lifting the blindfold and ripping the gag out. To Inigo, it would seem like they had risen only five feet into the air before he snapped. But any humiliation or shame he might feel wasn't important to the mercenaries. "Let's start this over," said Skyler softly. "Why you're here, where you came from, who sent you, and where the girl is."

He blinked at the question. Wasn't it obvious?
"I'm here to kill you, obviously. At least," he added bitterly, "that was the plan. That dumb bastard Smithe messed it up. I came from Setulan. We were chased out of our home system after the Great War. I was sent by my captain. As for the girl...your guess is as good as mine." He closed his eyes tightly.

"No," said Skyler without malice. "I doubt your base is in any civilized system unless a government or company is backing you. I need to know where you came from directly, to here, and the name of your Captain."

"Banes," he whispered hoarsely. "Captain Jonathan Banes of the Burning Death." He shut his eyes tightly. "I don't know where he is. We were supposed to meet up with him on Kel. He uses a captured merchant vessel to get past the fleet units there, he has a safehouse on the surface..."

"On Kel?" Skyler and Kartosh looked at each other. "Where's the ship you used to get here, and do you know the location of the safehouse?"

"Does it matter?" Nathan asked, slouching in his chair, "Kel's not very high on the Tourist wishlist, it shouldn't be hard to find this Captain or his vessel amongst all the Natives. Even if we don't use the Sergeant First Class here" He nodded to Inigo, "A little digging should drag him to the surface"

Skyler snorted. "He said they got there in a stolen merchant ship. There must be hundreds, if not thousands, of merchant ships on Kel. Not to mention roughly half of Kel's population is human as well, going by ourselves we'd never find the guy or his ship until they decided to relocate again, and then we'd be back to where we started. If we take their ship we can disguise ourselves as them until the Captain welcomes us in, then we bust in on their operation and follow the next link."

"We could do that as well," Nathan nodded happily, seemingly ignorant of Skyler's rebuke of his own idea, "The sooner we can start killing, the happier I shall be" He put his feet on the table and, with a small nod, dozed off, snoring quietly in the corner of the room.

Inigo laughed at them. He couldn't help it.
"You want to take the captain by surprise? Good luck with that. The ship is about thirteen miles west of here...but the only person who knew the codes to get in safely is a cooling corpse out there." He laughed again, derisively. "You're screwed, half-breeds."

"Thank you," said Skyler coolly, as Kartosh stood up and seized Inigo under his armpits, lifting him with more strength than one might have guessed the kitsune possessed to dump the former Guard to the floor into what appeared to be an empty closet. Hitting a switch the door shut, and the kitsune looked to Nathan. "We can jettison our prisoner in the escape pod once we get back to Xiscapia and have Customs pick him up for detainment." Skyler nodded. “But first you’ll need to take us to this alleged transport thirteen miles west of here.”

"If you so desire," Nathan raised his eyesbrows, "In that case, I'll go up and say hello then," He grinned and entered the cockpit as Chloe stood up again. Before Inigo was dumped in the cell, she hit him fully across the face, using all the strength she could muster. The force was enough to crack something in his face but it seemed to calm Chloe who spat on his crumpled body,
"Nobody calls me a half-breed you Bastard," She said coldly as the cell was sealed.

She looked at Skyler and smiled uneasily,
"I'm not comfortable with being shot at," She explained mildly as if that explained everything. She then headed off to join Nathan in the cockpit, leaving the two Kitsune Mercenaries alone.

There was a moment of silence.
"Righhhttt..." Kartosh muttered.
Skyler just shook her head and fell into a seat, starting to undress herself from the armor so she could don normal clothes again. "When we get close to this Captain person, we'll need to detain him alive so he can point us to the daughter, or at least the next link."
Kartosh just nodded. "I'll get us in as close as I can, but it won't take much to make this little charade fail faster than the will of a pickpocket on the run from Alversian military," he warned.
"Just get us in and we'll take care of the rest," muttered Skyler. "We've broken into much more secure places than any Kel warehouse protected by thugs and pirates."

A lone mercenary ran, breathless, across the barren tundra...but not to the ship. His lungs burned and his legs felt like they would seize up, but he forced himself on. He had to warn the others that the plan had been burned. He had to get to the backup radio.

To the Kitsune, the ship the mercenaries used would look strange and very foreign. It was a seventy-five yard long tube, something like a sausage, that was slightly bent at the nose. Obviously a former bomber, it had been converted to carry troops instead of its deadly payload.

"What the fuck is that?"
This exclamation came from Kartosh, eyeing the long ship squatting on the ground. "Looks like a Qonndamned Greali shuttle, I bet it doesn’t even have weapons."
While her partner was complaining about the quality of their transport, Skyler's sharp eyes spotted a figure legging it across the empty landscape. It was the escaping mercenary she had seen slipping out though the hole in the fence. "Look," she pointed out the dot moving away from them. "One of 'em survived. Strange...he should be making for the ship."
"Maybe he saw us?" suggested Kartosh.
"Could be," Skyler agreed. "Nathan, be a dear and blast him to kingdom come, will ya?"

Chloe said nothing at the sight of the ship, merely raised her eyebrows at it's strange shape and design. She shrugged, there were more unusual ones out there than this. It was just unexpected.

From the cockpit, Nathan called back,
"Will do, Ma'am, will do" Nathan pointed the bow of the Elixir down towards the Mercenary, aiming with all the experience one could possibly gain while piloting. When he was satisfied, he pulled the trigger and watched as the explosions surrounded the figure, spraying him with shrapnel and fire.

The mercenary made a dive for the vox as the alien ship turned towards him, guns armed. The blasts from the explosions threw his bleeding, battered body forward.

Right on top of the transmitter. His last act before being consumed by fire was to hit the transmission key. His final scream was sent on a secure, undetectable channel right to the Captain.

***

On Kel

A knock on the door.
"Enter," said the Captain. The man with the scar walked in.
"We have a problem."

"Got 'em," Skyler muttered with satisfaction, failing to notice the transmitter. "Just let us down here," she nodded, "and follow our lead until we reach the warehouse. The Elixir should remain cloaked, but ready to open up with her cannons if we get into a tight spot. Once we exit the shuttle I can guarantee they'll be a firefight, so we'll need to backup while we try to find this Captain person."

The Elixer of Life set down and Kartosh and Skyler hopped off, easily hacking the door to the bomber. As a long time mercenary Kartosh had picked up that particular skill, and the codes on such an old bucket of bolts proved no match for his skill. In no time he had commandeered the ship, and they left the moon and made the short jump to Kel.

Ten minutes later...
The bomber coasted down though the atmosphere, and Kartosh spotted the area they were to land in. It hadn't been hard to track from the computer where this vessel had launched from, and now they would be setting down right in the middle of the lion's den. The old ship slowly rattled down to the designated landing area at the warehouse, wheezing as it depressed and settled in. Kartosh quickly abandoned the cockpit, both mercenaries would go out the door facing away from where they suspected the thugs would come from. If they decided to surround the ship, they would find an alternative.

Behind the bomber came the Elixir, cloaked and unseen by anyone in the area. They had been careful to stay behind the vessel but not close enough to give away their position. Chloe sat with Nathan in the cockpit as he hummed happily to himself. They were waiting.

They could wait all they wanted...nothing was going to happen.
The instincts of Cuqa's mercenaries would go haywire at this point.
Soot stains on the walls. Bullet holes in the concrete. Splashes of brownish, dried blood.
The building was vacated...except for the dead.

***

The screen in Cuqa's office flashed to life, and he found himself facing the Captain.
"Hello again, Cuqa."

After a moment the door on the bomber opened and Kartosh cautiously poked his gun out, weary for a trap. Skyler had jumped out the other side and came around the flank of the ship, blaster leveled. The first thing that hit them was the smell, that of blood, fluids and unwashed bodies, and then they saw, they saw the bullet holes in the walls and floor, the corpses and the pools of blood. It was obvious whoever had been here had left in a hurry, and disposed of any of those who could say where they had been going. Skyler kneeled by one of the bodies, examining it to see what kind of person it had been, while Kartosh proceeded deeper in, checking for traps or any beings still alive.

It was obvious that many of the bodies were recently dead. A quick search would reveal nothing particularly revealing. They were all human, by and large from the Xiscapian or Alversian Empires. One man, however laying face down in a pool of blood, was shirtless and had a large tattoo emblazoned across his back-a golden eagle, rampant and with bloody talons, cried its defiance to the skies.
And it was also the same design that was on Inigo's armor. A quick search of his body would reveal a card for a bar that the mercenaries should be familiar with-it was one of the deepest pits of villany on the entire planet.
It would also give a place to start.

***

Banes sighed.
"Cuqa, I underestimated you. Truly, your money can buy the best there is. Your mercenaries almost caught up with me not too long ago. So congratulations. Now that the foreplay is over, however, we need to get down to brass tacks. I'm not interested in another drop like the last one. What I think I'm going to do is show you something that you should appreciate." The camera changed into a split picture. In the one, Ledi sat huddled in a corner of her bed, not moving. The other showed a room full of torture implements, from thumb screws and knives to electro-flails and shock lances.
"Next time I won't be so lenient. Next time, she gets whats in room two." The voice came through as the image remained split, giving him a good look at what would happen to his daughter.
"Don't test me again, Cuqa. I'll get back to you with instructions at a later date."

The screen went black.

ooc:TG, Xis

"Velvet Crosshairs bar?" Kartosh looked at the card, prodding the body with his foot. The bodies had been searched for valuables, and this was all that had come up. No booby traps, no living thugs, nothing. Just blood and corpses. Skyler shrugged. "It's relatively close, we can be there in five minutes." She waved up at where she estimated the cloaked Elixer of Life to be, indicating they should come down to pick them up.

Cuqa's Office...
Cuqa had stayed silent the entire time. He knew nothing he could say, no threats or pleas or bargains, could get the man to give him his daughter back. Those mercenaries had only been on the trail for mere hours now, and they had already nearly caught the bastard. But at the same time, they hadn't managed to get him, and that made Cuqa angry. He had his own agents, shadowing the mercenaries and keeping a sharp eye everywhere for signs of the kidnappers, and he wondered if he shouldn't pull the mercs off and give this foreigner what he wanted. But no: He had already made a deal with the four, and revenge was too prioritized in his mind for Cuqa to accept anything else.
So he waited.

Kel, city of Kel, slums...
A black SUV slowly rolled down the street, windows tinted, chrome wheels shining, indistinct shapes barely showing behind the glass. People, human and kitsune alike, watched warily as it passed, turning up a side street to a dead end at the back of a building. In front of the end of the street three men were sitting on barrels or packing crates in front of an old metal door, scarred, ugly faces only just swiveling to see the vehicle. The passenger door window came down abruptly and a hand stuck out, an Uzi in hand, firing. The burst threw two of the toughs to the ground, bloody holes in their chests, and the third dove for cover, a dirty gun coming out of the waistband of his pants.

The fire swung and clipped him across the shoulder, spinning him slightly, before a final round split though his head, killing the criminal. The other doors burst open and four thugs, three kitsune and a hulking, muscled Alversian, jumped out, one kitsune with the Uzi, another with a pistol, the third with an assault rifle and the Alversian carried a shotgun. They moved away from the idling car, spreading out four abreast, approaching the door, stepping over the sprawled bodies of the three dead men. The human gangster, who seemed to be the leader, wore a small patch (http://wolfwithglasses.deviantart.com/art/Syndicate-Symbol-70959768) on his right shoulder, and directed one of the kitsune to open the door. Doing so, the four slipped inside.

As it turned out, the Elixir was behind Skyler and decloaked quickly before setting down. They landed with a slight bump and Chloe was the first from the door, shotgun in hands. She took one look at the mess and groaned.
Nathan was next out and his reaction was predictable,
"Bloody hell!" He explained, stepping over a body, "We didn't leave you here this long did we?"

Slums

A loud creak echoed around the dark room as the four thugs entered. A single lantern hissed and shed an uneven light at the end of the building. The four moved cautiously...but not cautiously enough.
"Boo."
Crack! A shot from the dark accompanied the statement, followed by the uzi-bearing Kitsune's head becoming a deformed lump of meat.
Multiple shots rang out, cutting down the Kistune with the shotgun before they could even reply.
Two shooters from the dark, one on each side.
Not the best odds...but betting was part of a mercenaries life.

"This wasn't us," said Skyler seriously. "Looks like they somehow got wind that we were coming and disposed of anyone who could tell us where they went before hightailing it out."

"But look at this!" Kartosh held up the card. "Velvet Crosshairs Bar. I've drank there before, we might be able to get another lead on the kidnappers there."

Warehouse...
The kitsune and Alversian collapsed under the fire, dropping without even firing a shot. The goon with the assault rifle threw himself forward, pointing his automatic rifle towards the darkness to his left and opening up, dozens of rounds tearing towards the unseen attacker. The other kitsune stumbled back and croutched low with surprise and fear, shooting his pistol blindly into the dark, trying to hit whoever was shooting at them.

"What are we waiting for then," Nathan laughed as he holstered his shotgun, seemingly unaffected by the sight of slaughter in front of him. Chloe looked sick but moved forward anyway, following Nathan.

A heavy thud, like a mellon being dropped from a high place, followed by a gut wrenching scream told the assault rifle goon that he had scored a hit.
Unfortunately, he didn't get the other one.
Contemptuous laughter followed the blitz of fire, followed by anther hard, hollow bang as the assault rifle ganger dropped. Another shot blew off the surviving Kitsune's hand. The man with the scar walked into the light.
"Hello, friend." It was the voice from the dark. He walked over and stepped down, hard, on the survivors hand, crushin the bones.
"Who sent you, slime?"

"It's such a hole," muttered Skyler, who didn't have pleasant memories from the bar. Kartosh shrugged. "A merc's gotta do what a merc's gotta do." He stepped over a body and exited the warehouse, out into a street. "It's only a few blocks away," he gestured down the line of dipleded housing and crumbling, rusting warehouses.

Warehouse...
Tears filled the yellow eyes of the kitsune as the bones in his remaining hand were ground together and fractured, and he desperatly pulled to no avail. "Syndicate," he gasped, still trying to tug his hand out from under the crushing weight of the boot. His eyes flickered, and he stared directly at the man with the scar. "Sent to-"

There was a mightly blast and the kitsune was blown in half, the scarred Setulan thrown back off his feet. A large Korr in a suit and dark glasses stood at the warehouse door, toting a grenade launcher. It was the driver of the SUV. He gave a mighty bellow and fired again, seeking to destroy his enemy.

"Then let's go" Nathan said happily, following Kartosh. Chloe followed, only after a concerned look at Skyler. She made up the back of the group, eyes and ears trained to spot any ambush before it could strike at them.

The man with the scar landed lightly and rolled, rapidly assessing the new situation with battle-hardened speed.

The Korr was huge, far larger than the human despite his impressive size. He was tough, resistant to pain, hardened by a life of crime and violence to become a killing machine. To top it off, he had a grenade launcher.

The man with the scar was lighter and faster, wearing no armor whatsoever (the ambush had not given him time to prepare). All he had was his training and his pistol, a .357 magnum.

It was hardly fair...for the Korr.

The pistol came up and six heavy, hard shots rang out, all into the Korr's guts. If he was wearing body armor, it wouldn't kill the Korr, just incapacitate him. But he wanted to have some fun with the alien before he killed him.
Holstering his pistol, he drew his long-bladed combat knife and advanced with a smile as cold as the grave on his face.
"Syndicate bastard. Your life is mine."

As they would find, Velvet Crosshairs Bar really was a hole in the wall. A unassuming rusted brown metal door had been placed into a long battleship gray wall full of similar such doors, leading to pleasure houses, gambling dens, other bars and taverns and many a base for the sale of illegal drugs. The police never even bothered to come here, most of the crime that occurred was to petty for them to waste their time dealing with when violent gangs prowled the streets. So the general area was left pretty much alone, and it was guaranteed any given person inside was a criminal of some kind. Velvet Crosshairs Bar, though, was particularly notorious for being the haunt for pirates, smugglers, hitmen, gang members and, of course, mercenaries.

Inside the ceiling was covered with the smoke from any number of cigarettes, cigars or pipes, most of them emitting from illicit and probably dangerous substances. It was not particularly big, seating maybe three dozen, in various tables, booths and bar stools around the place, but as it was the place was full. Most of the patrons, it could be noted, were aliens of some kind or another: The only kitsune were Chloe, Skyler, Kartosh and the bartender, and the only human in the place was Nathan. Insect-like Rodian eyes glittered out of the darkness, eyestalks swiveled on strange heads and the level of muttered conversation dipped ever so slightly. The bartender took no visible notice of the foursome, cleaning a glass with a rag so that it moved the dirt and dregs from the last intoxicant around in a swirling motion.

Warehouse...
The Korr laughed, crumpling the grenade launcher like one might do so to a drink can and tossing it away. "Fool," his voice was the deepest the man had ever heard, and when he spoke it sounded as though merely speaking alone his words could crush rocks. The suit was torn in six places, but beneath that black body armor could be seen, shining dimly. It wasn't even dented, such armor had belonged to the Elite Skewered of the Korr Supreme Army, able to stand up to grenade blasts and joule machine laser blasts, firing a magnum at it was like throwing rocks at a tank. The huge beast wasn't even winded, and he gazed at the knife with amusement. "You call that a knife? This," he reached over his left shoulder and procured what seemed to be a four foot bayonet, really a sword that could be affixed to the end of a gun, "is a knife!"

Holding the blade before him, the Korr began to walk forward to meet the scarred man. If he even got one hand on the human, it was over. He could rip the any human-sized being limb from limb if he chose, or he could just squeeze until bones snapped and ground together and fluids started to leak out like juice from an overripe fruit. It would be obvious by this time that the Korr was no mere gangster, but a veteran from the Korr war and had probably killed dozens of kitsune or Alversians in his lifetime.

Nathan's eyebrows raised in amusement at the sight of the bar, like many of the hellholes he had seen in his time. He looked at Kartosh and nodded,
"Where to start" He said, almost to himself.

Meanwhile, Chloe had sped up slightly so that she was right beside Skyler, it suddenly occuring to her that they were virtually the only females in the bar and Chloe's clothes gave them plenty to look at, her midriff being exposed as always.

The man with the scar bared his teeth. There was no fear in his gaze.
"A knife? I stabbed your ill-begotten alien mother with something bigger than that, syndicate scum." Behind dead eyes, his brain was moving quickly.
Veteran, that much was obvious. He had picked up enough history from his time slumming to know that the creature was a Korr, and probably a combat veteran from that conflict. Excellent armor, excellent training. He had killed dozens. But the Colonel...
"I have killed more men than you have ever seen, alien." The voice was dead, empty. It would be clear to the Korr that he had met a man who was just as brutal as he...and he might even be telling the truth. "Come, die."

"No kidding," Kartosh approached the bar. It was impossible to tell where the eyes of most of the deziens of the Velvet Crosshairs were, hidden behind glasses, helmets, under hooded cloaks or visors, but one could safely assume they were, even now, running along Chloe's tanned stomach and following the curves that could be seen beneth the clothing of the two female kitsune. Others ignored this and kept a close eye on Nathan, instincively knowing that, despite his manner, the Alversian could be trouble. Kartosh himself was not unobserved, but he had been here before and did not seem especially threatening, so the newcomers and Skyler bore the brunt of the silent, invisable examination.

Kartosh stepped up to the bartender, leaning against the counter, one hand passing casually over it. "A beer, mate, and the names and locations of any offworld humans who might have passed though recently with large golden birds on their clothing or tatooed to their skin..."
Under his hand two coins were swept along, triple the cost of the drink and then some, not an insignificant amount.
OOC: Will you be RPing the bartender, Set?

Warehouse...
The Korr was likewise unintimidated. "You and your kind will not be long in this sector!" he howled as he swung the massive bayonet in an arc meant to cleave the Setulan's skull and spill his brains all over the floor.

Nathan watched casually as Kartosh talked, eyeing up one of the other Bartenders and of the men drinking at the counter. The Human nodded miserably and threw a note down on the table. At the same time, the Bartender turned away to open his cash register and the Human turned to look at Chloe and Skyler, both standing nearby but close together. Quick as lightning, Nathan had snagged the note and placed it in his pocket. Just as he settled back to where he was, the two turned to find the note gone. An arguement erupted, both accusing the other and proclaiming their own innocence. Nathan grinned, winked at Chloe and knocked to get the Bartender's attention. As he turned angrily to face the Alversian, he brandished the note,
"A Beer for my friend here," He indicated to the confused human, "and a large one for myself" He paid with the man's money, neither of the two realising it. Nathan took his own drink, accepted the thanks of the man then left them to their arguement.
Chloe shook her head at Nathan as he took a deep drink of his glass,
"You just can't help yourself can you?" She sighed. He just grinned in reply.

The Bartender looked at Kartosh sullenly.
"What's it to you, huh?" He took the money anyway, pocketing most and putting a bit in the register. He walked away, pulled drinks for the human and Nathan, and came back over. He turned to Nathan.
"You want my attention again, pretty boy, you better not be knocking on my bar." He then turned his back on him and started talking to Kartosh.
"Might be I've seen a few around. Kept to themselves mostly, didn't drink much. Sat in a corner. Not very social." he gave Kartosh a beady stare.
"You want more, so do I. A couple coins aint worth my life, and these are rough people you be askin bout."

Warehouse

The Colonel was there one second...and gone the next, dancing nimbly aside and getting in a return swipe that scraped against the Korr's armor. He laughed contemptuously.
"Pathetic." A second quick repost knicked the Korr's face, leaving a small trail of blood. The Colonel rolled away and licked the blood off his knife.
"I'll taste more than this before I am done."

"I am aware," said Kartosh softly. His eyes flickered over to Nathan and Chloe, then fixed the bartender with a knowing look. "Name your price."
At one of the tables a cloaked form shifted ever-so-slightly, it appeared to be nursing it's drink but two red, pupiless eyes flashed for a moment in the direction of the bar before lowering.
Warehouse...
"I will make you eat your organs before I kill you!" the Korr roared, lunging for a stab at the irritating human.

The Colonel bent over backwards, his back almost parallel to the ground, as the blade whistled over his face so close he could feel the wind of its passing. He righted himself and dove, narrowly avoiding a fist that would have crushed his skull.
"This is getting old, Korr. Give up, or die." He made another slash, followed by two more in quick succession. He just had to hold him off a bit longer...

Bar

The bartender leaned in.
"Triple that, and we'll talk." But what the hell, he thought, might as well give them a teaser...
"Ever hear those horror stories about the Burning Hate?"

The strikes only sparked off the armor, though one did bite into the tough flesh of the forearm, lodging momentarily there before being tugged free. The Korr, apparently oblivious to the pain, stepped back, still holding out his bayonet. "The package, human, is all I want. Give it to me and we may part ways."

Bar...
"Nope," Kartosh slid another few dull coins across the bar. "Never heard of her. A Rebel ship, was she? Do tell."

The Colonel backed up warily.
"Package? What package might that be?"

Bar

The bartender grunted...and pocketed the coins.
"Not in any war of ours." He looked down the bar before leaning in, bidding Kartosh to do the same.
"Past coupla years, merchantmen 'tween Alversia and Xiscapia ain't been safe. Pirates, lad, but not any. These buggers come from some other system, Sebulan, Setulan, something like that. Trashed a few other pirate ships then took up the slack in earnest, they've avoided anybody sent out to get them. Word is the captain is a hardcase, a total nut. He's got this lackey with a big scar across his face who runs most of his shit on the ground. They got a few safehouses scattered on the planet, they been fighting it out with some of the crime bosses in system. And the word is," he said, his voice getting even lower, "they are into something big right now. And I mean big. Kidnapping some rich guys kid." He leaned back out. "Might be I could remember a bit more. Maybe," he said, smiling and revealing a golden tooth.

The Korr smiled, fleshy upper lip peeling back to reveal nasty, yellowed teeth. "The girl, you fool. The Syndicate knows you have her, and we're willing to pay handsomely to take her ourselves. I know we would hate to have to take her by force," he nodded to the door where the bodies of the thugs were lying, "we both saw how that turned out."

Bar...
Figures. Kartosh sunk into the seat. Ever since that old pirate fleet went with the Rebels and bought it it's left quite the space for fresh blood.
"Let's see if we can freshen that memory a bit more effectively," muttered Kartosh, casually passing another coin across the bar. The bartender went to pick it up, but found it was heavier than it looked, and when examined it stuck stubbornly to his hand.

"That's a Type K Blast-Tech explosive, that is," said Kartosh quietly as Skyler came up behind him, watching the bartender with a slight smile and a glitter in her eyes. "Won't come off for anything, except this." Skyler held up a tiny vial that had some kind of white paste inside before it vanished back into a belt pouch. "It's set to go off in two minutes, and when it does it'll blow your hand clean away. You have until then to tell us everything you know about this deal, and we'll give you the compound to take the thing off free of charge, or you can cut your hand off and save the bomb the trouble. It's your choice." He smiled widely. "Make the right one."

The man with the scar looked at the Korr...and laughed.
"Do you take us for fools? For one thing, she isn't here...or anywhere else your pathetic syndicate can get her. Secondly, we can get more for her life from her father than you could ever give us." The laughter stopped.
"Now leave, and take my warning back to your master. If they trifle with us, they will die. All of them."
"Or you can stay," he added...and out of the shadows, the sounds of a dozen weapons being primed ranging from the high-pitched whine of laser rifles to the click of bolts being drawn back and let loose to put a bullet in the chamber. A number of laser sights appeared on the Korr, ranging from his head to torso to knees.
"Back up slowly, and you live. Fail to do that, well...we'll see if your armor can survive a hit from a rocket launcher. Your choice."

Bar

The bartender started to sweat.
"Alright, alright!" he said hoarsley. "They took the Cuqa girl. They have a safehouse about six blocks from here, they think no one knows about it but I heard some of them talking about it. Their captain is called Banes, and they use a false merchant ship to get into the system without being attackd." His eyes were wide and wild.
"Get this fucking thing off of me!"

The Korr seemed to consider this. "We will have her," he rumbled finally. "The Syndicate has power in this sector, human, and no band of pirates could hope to compete. When we hunt you down, I will be there," another smile, more like a snarl, "and you will find out what happens to those who try to move in on Syndicate territory."
A mock bow and the Korr was gone, vanished into the shadows, incredibly quiet for his size.

Bar...
"Sure," Kartosh grinned and reached across the bar, grasping the bartender's hand, and pryed the coin away from his palm with two fingers. The mans eyes went wide with pain as it peeled away, taking a bit of skin with it, and Kartosh pocketed the five-credit currency. "A bit of glue and harsh words is all it takes to make a gullible man to part with valuable information. We thank you for your help."

Nathan grinned as he watched Kartosh's trick, drinking his own beer as he did so,
"Nice trick," He said mildly, "Must remember to use it myself sometime. So, where are we headed for next?"

The Colonel watched the Korr leave before turning around.
"Make sure he leaves."
"Aye aye," said a voice from the shadows. Scurrying feet echoed out and there was a pause.
"He's gone, sir," The man with the scar nodded.
"Alright. Round up the others...we'll answer this attack, have no doubts. And maybe...just maybe...the Captain will pull what he did over the hives." A dark grin spread over his face. He looked forward to that, if Banes decided to.
Think you can survive an orbital bombardment, alien scum?

Across the city that night, three drive by shootings occured. Eleven Syndicate members were killed by the crew of the Burning Hate that night. The war was officially on.

***

The bartender swore and looked at Kartosh darkly.
"One word, and they won't find your body ever again..." He scribbled something down on the paper and slid it over the counter to the mercenaries.
"Take the address and go, now, before I have the crowd kill you."

The Syndicate were quick to respond, they were no low-life street gang, so the criminals on Kel had their people already in place by the time the last of their gangster brethern had died. Females of all races, agents of the Syndicate or otherwise paid for their deeds, slept with crew members of the Burning Hate, and their comrades would find them in their beds the next morning, strangled, stabbed or worse, the whore nowhere to be found. Though the police might control the inner cities and spaceports, the Syndicate had free reign over the smaller towns and less populated areas, and there was no way they would take this from any bunch of off-world punks. The most horrible thing about the Syndicate was that they were everywhere: Not just thugs or Bosses, but informants and spies hidden among officials and corporations, entire communities sworn to silence or bought off for information, companies paid for their illegal, quiet transport of arms and materials and disposal of bodies. The Syndicate had had years to construct their criminal empire, and they had strength in arms, manpower, they knew the territory, they knew the locals and officials, they were widespread and extremely efficent.
Agents of the Syndicate were hunting them.
No gang, no matter how ruthless, could survive for long.

Bar...
As the mercenaries left nothing changed but for the cloaked figure rose from the table, padding over to the bar. "Well done," rasped the hood, pulled low so features were obscured by the darkness, "that will be the lasssst we sssse of them. If any more come sssssniffing around, sssssend them our way." The person gave a nod and left, discreeting tailing the group.

"Warehouse, six blocks away, let's move," Skyler answered, having left the bar, the other three in tow, heading on foot towards the address. Kartosh fell into step beside her. "Whoa, whoa, where are you going, you realize this is a trap, right?" he asked.
"Well, yes, but you know the old saying." Skyler winked. "The fox who sees the trap-"
"Cannot be caught, yeah, I know," interrupted Kartosh. "But are you so sure once the trap is sprung we can escape? Why the hell are we walking into this?"
"That scarred bastard, you saw him at the compound," Skyler pointed ahead. "Notice he wasn't among the dead? Hear the bartender talk about him? If he's in this city, he'll be at that warehouse, ready to take us."
Kartosh shook his head. "And that means...?"
"That means we get answers, and the next piece of the puzzle."

Nathan and Chloe walked behind the Kitsune pair, quiet but also keeping an eye on the walls and the rooftops of the area, just in case someone decided to get ahead of the game and ambush them a little early. If there was anything that Nathan liked, it was springing a trap. He liked traps.

The Syndicate was cold, ruthless, and brutal. They killed almost sixty, and were right to believe that it would drive away the crew of the Burning Hate. They had not, however, counted on the brutality of Banes. His face was an ugly rictus of hate as the reports came in to his ship about the deaths to his crew.
None of his Praetorians had died; the only time they had engaged Syndicate was when eight gangsters fell upon three Praetorians in the alley. The Praetorians were now safe on the ship, nursing a few cuts and bruises. The gang banger's bodies would probably never be found. Banes paced in anger on his bridge deck. His crew had only seen him this enraged once, and that had ended in...
None wished to think of it. They just wondered what the captain would do now.

Outside the Warehouse...
Kartosh looked up at the building: Four stories tall, probably gutted on the inside, made of rusting girders with sheets of metal attatched by bent nails, spit, glue and rust. It had probably once served as storage for Guilda crystals, but most of the mining company buildings had relocated to safer, more protected areas, and it had been evidently taken over by the crew of the Burning Hate.
"So," Skyler looked over to their two partners as Kartosh checked his weapons in anticipation, "how we gonna do this?"

"Burst in and the blow the place apart?" Nathan asked mildly looking from one to the other, entirely serious about it. Chloe shook her head,
"You guys have any ideas?" She asked the Xiscapian Pair.

Banes stopped pacing and a slow, cruel smile spread across his face.

Thirty minutes later planetside, a syndicate team kicked in doors on a safehouse of the Burning Hate....and stopped dead.
On the walls were the crucified and blinded bodies of fifty small looking Kitsune. A message was stapled to one of their chests, and the lead Syndicate member pulled the message down.

The game is simple. For every one of my crew you kill, I will pick one random Kitsune child off of the street. I will then have them tortured and murdered. These deaths are on your hands, Syndicate. Regards.

Kitsune women lined the walls of the safehouse. Banes had been true to his word.

"We could try to enter via the roof," suggested Skyler. "But that would count on there still being any catwalks or upper levels for us to land on. If we try to rappel down all the way to the floor, and there are any thugs in there, they'll just pick us off as we come. But the doors will either be locked or bobby-trapped, and definitely watched, so..." She shrugged. "Do we have any volunteers for roof surveillance?"

Safehouse...
The same Korr that had faced down the scarred man in the warehouse was there, reading the message. After he absorbed the information he crumpled the paper in one huge fist, dropping it to the floor. "Find them!" he snarled. "If you catch any, you know what to do!"

Syndicate patrols abruptly increased, becoming more visible in all neighborhoods. They couldn't hope to try and protect everyone, so they spread the word, and the crew of the Burning Hate would suddenly find that not even the most desperate or low kitsune on Kel would house, feed or supply them. The people of Kel were used to gang wars and the bloodshed they meant, but the Setulan crew had simply gone too far in threatening to murder children. Houses were locked down, fathers sleeping with pistols under their pillows, mothers sitting in living rooms late at night with shotguns resting across their knees, children sometimes ushered down into the cellar or up into the attic for the night. As this happened the people began to take the side of the Syndicate: The Kingpin and his men never killed their women or threatened to torture their children. In this, more safehouses and meeting areas of the crew were reported, and now any crew member who wasn't outright killed was captured. He would be shot in the rectum, usually with a pistol, to die a slow, painful, humiliating death, unable to move and for the last three hours of his life living with the feeling like he was shitting broken glass.
The crew of the Burning Hate had struck a nerve, and now even the locals were against them, driving them back to hide only in places no one else knew.

"Sure. Why not?" Chloe sighed and lifted her rifle to her shoulder. One quick flash and she was gone. Nathan grinned,
"Shall we go and spring this trap?"

"Let's move," agreed Kartosh, walking forward towards the massive double iron doors, the main loading dock for incoming vehicles. Skyler watched him go, and nodded to Nathan. "Come on," she sighed, "let's get this over with."

"What's the sigh for?" Nathan asked happily, "I want to do something like this," He checked his weapon, "Keeps you sharp"

The crew of the Burning Hate officially gave up fighting after the latest wave of raids on the safehouses. While casualties were high for the syndicate-the fact was, they were assaulting what were effectively fortified positions held by stone-cold killers-Banes decided it wasn't worth the dead crew. He could always purchase more, but he had bigger fish to fry, and wasn't in the mood to be bothered with such trivialities.
Of course, he still had to keep his word. Except this time, the bodies were layed out in the Governor's front yard. No one was entirely sure how it was done, but it would be blatantly obvious to the entire populace of the planet that the Governor had no control over his planet (if they didn't already). The Praetorians who were responsible were back on the false merchant man before they could be traced.

Warehouse...

Darkness would meet the mercenaries. They were late again...but this time, a brief search would reveal something telling...

A manifest with the false merchant man on it.

The people of Kel were shocked and horrified, and news quickly spread to Xiscapia. The Xiscapians in most areas were simply not used to gang warfare, and the atrocities commited disgusted and, finally, enraged them. Police and military-trained counterterrorism units began to patrol and make raids into even Syndicate-controlled areas, and if not more brutal or ruthless than the gangsters, they were far more effective at capturing and killing the rouge crew members, even in their makeshift strongholds. For now the Syndicate were content to let the government do their work for them, sinking back into the shadows. The Governor himself announced a ball at his mansion, intended to sooth the scared and apprehensive politicians, bigwigs and other bigshots on the moon, only a night away.

Warehouse...
As they entered they found, again, no one. Kartosh cautiously approached the manifest, picking it up and examining the list. "It's a trap," said Skyler, looking over his shoulder. "Not even the stupidist thug would leave any supply lists just lying around. Hmm, so they intend to lure us to a place connected with the list...but where?" The two kitsune looked at each other.

Nathan was disappointed,
"Wherever it is, let's go!" He laughed and waved into the rafters, where Chloe swung down from and joined the main group, she glanced at the paper and shrugged.
"I guess we may as well check it out" She sighed.

A more detailed look at the manifest would stop the mercenaries dead...because of the goods being shipped, two large crates were going to the Governor's mansion full of 'food stuffs'.

Kel...

The anti-insurgency teams did their jobs well. Luckily for the crew of the Burning Hate, most of them had already retreated back to their ship. Unfortunately for a few of the teams, the mercenaries had hastily booby trapped a few of their strongholds, killing off a couple police...and to no avail. The trail was cold.

"Hey," Kartosh looked at the manifest, frowning. "Isn't the Governor-"
"Holding a ball tommorow night?" interjected Skyler. "Yeah. Looks like the kidnappers are intending to send him a little surprise." She looked at Nathan and Chloe. "We need to get into that party and stop them, the authorities would never beleive us, especially if they check and don't find anything. We need to attend that function." She frowned. "Somehow."
"I've got an idea!" said Kartosh in excitment. "I know a guy, he'll help us, it's foolproof!"
"Nothing is foolproof to a sufficently talented fool," said Skyler pointedly, but it didn't seem to bother Kartosh in the slightest. "C'mon, you guys 'll love this." He started to lead them out of the warehouse, leaving the manifest behind.

--------
For the time being, the police teams and counterterrorism units stopped hunting the criminals and turned their attention to securing the main streets and buildings of Kel, especially around the Governor's Mansion. Right now they needed to protect the guests and make a show of force, and resume the search after the Ball was over. On the outer edges of the perimiter set up by the police forces there was the heaviest equipment and vehicles, APCs with force field barricades, police patrolling with automatic weapons and patrol ships hovering overhead. As one progressed inward it the defenses got lighter and less noticable, conctrete barriers manned by dress uniform or plainclothes officers with squad cars or hovercraft, snipers hidden discreetly in the surrounding buildings. On the outside they wanted to let the guests know they were well-protected, but to have so much immediate security around the Mansion itself would be disconcerting and uncomfortable, so they confined themselves to keeping the larger, better armed officers and vehicles on the outside and the lighter armed, quieter ones on the inside, where they belonged.

"I have the strangest feeling I will" Nathan laughed and followed eagerly. Chloe remained behind long enough to sigh lightly to herself before moving after her partner. Sometimes she wondered if Kartosh and Nathan were distant relations. They were too a like to be different.

OOC: Ugh, sorry for the lapse, RL has been hectic...
IC:
The next day, ten minutes from the start of the Ball...
A black limousine rolled slowly up to a police checkpoint, bright searchlights and force fields reflecting off the polished chrome surface. The attending officer (http://oni.bungie.org/archives/concept_art/tctf.jpg) stepped out of his station, walking alone the few feet to lean over so his head was level with the window. The initial defense was a solid row of concrete barriers, reinforced by forcefields, behind which there were several law enforcement APCs (http://mobilesuitgio.deviantart.com/art/MC-APC-Armac-9471104) and squad cars (http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff167/mreynolds058/?action=view&current=ICPDCar.jpg). Regular officers and Special Law Action Mediator (SLAM) troopers (http://www.gamespot.com/pages/image_viewer/frame_lead.php?pid=919935&img=78&sid=undefined) watched the limo warily, well aware of the increased gang activity that has resulted in the deaths of dozens of citizens and several of their own comrades within the past few days. It was expected one of the gangs would try something here, so Kel's finest intended to stop it before it could disturb the Governor's Ball.

The window, tinted so it could not be seen though, rolled down slowly to the halfway point, revealing a clean-shaved kitsune with 'servant' written all over him. He nodded to the officer, and the policeman stuck out his hand, palm up. "Identification, credentials and invitation please," he said clearly and politely. The chauffer nodded again and withdrew into the shadows of the car for a moment. The officers tensed. If he was going to attack and try to break though the checkpoint, now would be the time...
But he merely edged back into the light with several papers and a small I.D. card in his hand, giving it to the officer. The policemen walked back to his station and checked the papers. All registered as valid so the officer handed them back over and waved the vehicle though, a force field screen going up as soon as it had passed though. One down, at least a dozen more to go...

Kartosh sighed in relief as he guided the limousine away from the checkpoint, the window scrolling back up into place. "See?" he said to the rest of the car, "told you it would work." In the main section of the limo Skyler sat with Nathan and Chloe, but it was impossible recognize any of them: Skyler was dressed in a snug backless black dress, a fine pearl necklace dropping down around her ivory neck to end just above her cleavage, diamond earrings glittering faintly on her earlobes, red lipstick and mascara applied to make the rough mercenary into a vixen of the ballroom, her hair, naturally light blue but dyed a navy color, done up in an elaborate bun. She looked surprisingly comfortable with the finery, and had practiced a voice Kartosh termed to be that of 'an arrogant elitist bitch' when reprimanding him for grumbling when Nathan raided the wet bar of the expensive high-class limousine without him. The other two mercenaries were dressed in similar outfits in preparation for their infiltration of the Governor's Ball.

Kartosh had led them halfway across town to an out-of-the-way office where fake invitations, a set of credentials and cards identifying the four as 'relatives of business associates and their bodyguards' of BlastTech industries. Obviously Cuqa, or at least his agents, were no strangers to the criminal underworld, and Skyler had suspected the printers had been set up there exactly for this purpose by the powerful tycoon, but she didn't question it. From there they had used a significant portion of their funds to rent the limousine and buy the clothing, perfumes, accessories and other necessities to help them fit into the Ball. Skyler and Chloe were the daughters (or otherwise related) to friends of associates of BlastTech business executives, and Kartosh and Nathan were to be their bodyguards. Both males carried a fully-sized blaster pistol, but the two females of the group had to make due with whatever holdout guns or daggers they could conceal on their persons.

"Man, I hate suits," Nathan grumbled from the front seat as the limo cruised into the grounds of the rather expansive mansion. Thatw as without mentioning the obvious expense that had been spent to construct it. Regardless of what he thought, Nathan had to admit it was quite a house.

"Relax Nathan," Chloe stated, sitting idly beside Skyler. She was dressed in a similiar fashion, with a long red ballgown, cut along the sides to show a strip of the Kitsune's long legs as she relaxed in the car. It also showed off her fine figure to it's full potential.
Her hair was in it's normal long state, but beautifully washed and combed so that the deep sea blue shine was almost unbeleivable. Unlike the others though, Chloe had grown up attending balls like this. She was also one who did not need a false story to pass into the building. Her Father was already well known amongst the highest Alversian and Xiscapian Social circles, friends with the ex-Prime Minister of Alversia and a well known supporter of the Vanadict from Xiscapia. He was a Kitsune of power. The fact that she had not even seen him in more than eight years did not phase her at all.

"Well, Kartosh," She said in a voice that could have passed for royalty, "Could we possibly be left at the front door? I am sure that a Valet shall park the car for us."

"I bloody hope so," Nathan grumbled, "this car cost a bomb! I coulda got a Regiment pissed for this kinda money"

"Watch your tongue," Chloe snapped, reverting back to her normal voice for a moment before she regained control, "You can't talk all 'Navy' like to these people. You have to be polite"

"Certainly," Nathan adopted the worst and most exaggerated posh tone he could, "Well Sir Ponce, I am glad to see you are so well. How's the Mistress then? Still in bed or has the Missus moved back in ye...ow!"

The last exclaimation was for a clip in the ear that the Alversian recieved from a rather irritated Chloe,
"It may be better if you don't speak at all," She said thoughtfully.

"Suits me," Nathan replied, sulking.

"Kartosh, be a Dear and leave us here," Chloe indicated to where a series of Limos were parked, waiting for both Valets and introductions to the Host of the Ball, the Governor himself.

Above Kel, the Burning Hate approached docking. Banes stood on the bridge, relaxed on the outside but broiling within. This plan of his carried so many risks...but ah, the rewards should it succeed!
If nothing else, Jonathan Banes had plenty of self confidence, and for the most part it was justifiable. Why wouldn't he? He was an excellent combat commander, a brilliant planner and tactician. He had avoided the Republican ships for years...and he had killed millions-to this day he wasn't entirely sure how many had died-and gotten away with it. He picked up his vox microphone.
"Link to Kel orbital control." The radioman gave his captain a long look, consternation obvious on his face. Banes smiled at him. He may have been brutal to the mercenaries he hired, but for the spacers from Setulan, he was always the kind father.
"Son, I've taken you from Setulan to here, and we're still alive. Trust me. Get me the link." The radioman, reassured, smiled back at him.
"Yes, sir!"

Kel Control, Kel Control, this is the Merchantman Golden Ray, requesting permission to enter geosynchrous orbit above the planet. We're taking a layover for some shore leave before a big jump and wont be staying long. Over.

He put down the mic.
"Now we wait." He turned to the man with the scar.
"Colonel, get your men ready." He nodded and walked away.

Message to Merchantman Golden Ray:
You have permission to enter geosynchrous orbit over the moon. Please keep within expected flight parameters.

Governor's Mansion...
"Yes ma'am," Kartosh swung the limousine into an empty space, doors opening and the four departing as Kartosh handed over the keys to a valet. They were relatively early, there were only a few guests and only a few in front of them to get inside. Flanking the door were two policemen in dress uniform, their only visible weapons holstered pistols but obviously prepared for some kind of attack. Just inside the magnificent twin oak doors an aide stood with a datapad in hand, reading off the titles and names of those passing though to the entire hall. The mercenaries came on approach, Skyler first with Kartosh behind her, then Chloe and Nathan flanking her.

"Announcing," the aide called out in a grand tone, "Mistress Falu, daughter of CEO Ymusa of the Union Aerospace Corporation, and Lady Eeni, cousin of the great and respected Ambassador Gaval!" There was some scattered applause; though it was evident no one actually knew who either of these females was. The Ball room was a cleared space on a marble floor, surrounded by ornate pillars, elegant potted plants, lavish decorations made of gold and silver, and several long tables groaning with all kinds of upper-class finger foods, Hor oeuvres and caviar aplenty. Inside there was already a dozen people, most of them kitsune but some Alversian or Korr, all in suits or dresses of some kind and chattering amongst themselves, stopping only to give a welcome to the latest arrived guest. It did not appear that the Governor himself was there yet, but several known leaders, such as the Chief Priest from the local Church, the Head of Port Authority, a noted police captain, several aide workers and a few Syndicate associates were already there.

Chloe frowned at the use of the name as something suddenly struck her. Her Father had known the Governer of Kel for sometime and was a Patron of Blastech. If he came to this ball then she was sunk. There would be no way out. He thought she was dead. What would she say if he saw her here, not even using her own name?
Regardless, she leant forward, gently moving past Kartosh to talk to Skyler,
"We need to find somewhere with a good view of the ballroom, somewhere we can spy without being spied upon ourselves" She smiled a greeting at one of the Alversians before turning back to Skyler,

"See anywhere? And stop it" the last statement was to Nathan, who was eyeing the food in the same way that a Lion eyed the antilope.

"What?" He asked accusingly.

"Control yourself," The Kitsune hissed, "You're meant to be a hired and trained bodyguard"

"Bodyguards don't eat?" He asked mildly, then returned to his position beside Chloe and close to the table of food.

The entire bridge of the Burning Hate, minus Banes, breathed a sigh of relief.
"And to think some of you doubted me," he said with a wry smile. "This is why I'm Captain. Audacity, Audacity, Audacity." The ship moved into geosynchrous orbit above the planet almost over the governors mansion.
"The perfect time is coming."

In the bowels of the ship, the remaining Praetorians were getting ready.
Two hundred thirty eight were all that remained. Where once there were millions, now a mere pittance marked the proud personal army of the Emperor.

But these were not regular soldiers.

Their armor was in superb condition, sufficient to prevent all but the most powerful cartridge, the most violent explosion.

To say that their weapons were ready would do them an injustice; for they were the weapon. Rifle or machinegun became a simple extension of their body. Close quarters combat was practiced and honed into an art in gruelling four hour sessions every day until their movements were as fluid as water.

Each had smelled the smoke. Each was a veteran of a dozen battles and boarding actions. They had been baptised in the blood of innocents.

They were death incarnate...and they were coming.

"Up there," Skyler murmured, nodding to a balcony above the food tables, currently occupied only by several plush red leather chairs, an excellent vantage point with a view of the entire Ballroom. However, being above the floor and slightly screened by the balcony, most would not even so much as look up to it, concentrating on what was below, at ground level. More and more guests were arriving, the trickle becoming a flood in less time than it took to tell about it. One of them was a huge Korr, flanked by several kitsune and Alversian bodyguards in suits and dark glasses, goons of the Syndicate. None of the mercenaries would recognize him, but he was the Shateigashira, or Lieutenant, or Kel, in control of all Syndicate operations and trade that went though. The Governor had yet to arrive, though the guests seemed to function quite well without him, making passes at the tables and talking amongst themselves, forgetting the criminal-controlled city they lived in on the Syndicate moon for at least a night.

Kartosh, too, was glancing at the food, and as the foursome passed by to ascend the stairs he struck with all the speed of a snake, snagging several sausages on sticks, a few cheese cubes and a couple of truffles, making off with them before anyone had time to react. There was a slight rise in the level of conversation as the mercenaries walked up the stairs, the two "bodyguards" triumphantly sharing the spoils of Kartosh's raid while Skyler sighed for what felt like the millionth time in exasperation and just kept climbing the steps. Around the Ball room several men, kitsune and Korr, all dressed in suits, some on the perimeter and some mingling with the guests, were watching and waiting, concealed guards. Certainly something would happen, but exactly how severe it would be and how quickly it could be contained and silenced remained to be seen. So the party was nearly started, awaiting only the arrival of the Big Cheese himself.

"I see it," Chloe nodded then turned to see Nathan stuffing his face with sausages. She raised an eyebrow and shook her head at his appearance. The threatening bodyguard image had vanished as Nathan walked with two stuffed cheeks like a Squirrel. He grinned then went back to his food. As he was about to place another piece of cheese into his mouth, Chloe snatched it from him and slammed it into Kartosh's chest.

"You," She grabbed him by the collar and pointed to the spot, "Up there, make sure no one sees you" Her motions were in the middle of a crowded hall. She had checked that no one could see her before she had done it. Nathan fought himself free, dusted down his suit snootily, then slunk off towards the stairs.

"Now we have to mingle," She said mildly to the other two, "And try not to get our heads blown off by the Syndicate while we here," She was looking at Kartosh as she spoke.

"What are you implying?" asked Kartosh in a mock hurt voice as he wiped mashed cheese off his suit. "We'll be fine," he winked, spreading his arms, "hey, it's me!" He smiled confidently. Skyler rolled eyes. "Where should we start? You seem more acquainted with this sort of thing."

Chloe rolled her eyes at Kartosh and had a quick glance up to see if Nathan had reached his campspot. There was no one there. The area was empty. With a sigh she turned to Skyler and thought for a moment,
"Normally, we would have to introduce ourselves to the Host. However, as he has not yet arrived, I suggest the biggest and most infuential person here. He may reveal something without him knowing," She winked and glanced around,
"Who's here from the Kel Police tonight?" She asked mischieviously.

"I think there's a Captain somewhere around here," Skyler cast about for a moment before finally spotting the kitsune, dressed in a navy blue dress uniform with black shoulders and boots, an officers cap on his head and several bars on his chest. He was not speaking with anyone at the moment and seemed quite alone, sipping a drink quietly by a pillar, light brown hair shaved closely, orange eyes probing the hall, no flick of his orange tail or twitch of the ears betrayed his apprehension. Kartosh took one look at the man and backed off. "I'll just...uh, get a drink, shall I?" He walked away, careful to keep his back firmly to the other Xiscapian. Skyler looked from him to the Captain. "They've got a bit of a history, I'm afraid," she muttered to Chloe as they made their way over to the policeman.

Banes picked up his vox.
"Go."

The assault was in two parts. The first wave was a group of specialized stealth dropships, ejected from weapons ports, that hurtled through the atmosphere invisible to any detection system known to intelligent species...or so they hoped. Fifty Praetorians were the first in, landing gently on the roof of the building unbeknowest to any guards. They quickly silenced what few troops remained on the roof, killing them quickly and cleanly before they could get a warning out.
The second wave, consisting of all the remaining Praetorians, left the ship in what would appear to be regular bulk lifters...until they entered atmosphere. Upon entering breathable air and reaching a certain height, the seemingly harmless bulk lifters disintegrated, and what remained were clearly military grade dropships. They hurtled in, screaming against the atmosphere, all around the perimiter of the compound, crashing into the earth and unloading their deadly cargo.

The security didn't have a chance.

Caught completely by surprise, the last place they had expected an attack from was orbit. That aside, they still had a chance for organized resistance...accept for the Praetorians on the roof who opened fire as the assault began. Hit from above and the rear, the guards panicked and started to die.
The security troops were well trained and motivated, but they didn't stand a chance against the ferocity of the assault. They were crushed and forced to retreat within three minutes.
The majority of the purple-armored jugernauts immediately set up a perimeter to keep out any unwanted company. They had bare minutes to complete their mission. They would not fail.

Inside the building, security guards had all reached for their weapons and started to rush for the doors when a hard bang echoed above them and the glass roof fell in. Twenty Praetorians rappeled in, gunning down what resistance they could. The Man with the Scar led them...and landed right in front of the huge Korr.

The fight was well and truly on.

"Well, so long as we..." Chloe was interupted by the sound of gunfire from outside and she knew that this was what they had been waiting for. She took one look at Skyler, then one look up at the holdout spot where Nathan should have been. Still nothing.
"Qonndamnit!" She yelled and pulled a machine pistol from a small bag she had been carrying. She was still armed with her katana of course but that would come later. For now, she worked on staying close to Skyler, keeping her back to the Mercenary.

The security men and police were well-trained and ready, but the last thing they expected was an attack from above by elite troops, equipped with military-grade weapons and equipment. Many of them died where they stood, most not even having a chance to fight back, and those who did were either killed in the resulting firefight or pinned down. However, the established perimeter encompassed multiple buildings, and unfortunately for the Praetorians, these held sniper and anti-sniper teams, who began to extract their toll on the purple-armored soldiers. The echoing crack of sniper fire was almost constant as targets were located, caught in the crosshairs and dropped, forcing them to take cover or die. Most of what few policemen remained were outside the perimeter, and were underequipped and outnumbered, in no condition to try and break though to the mansion.
Fortunately, they didn't need to.

The drop ships had been detected, and a mass response occurred, police APCs and patrol ships converging on the mansion, along with hundreds of officers and SLAM soldiers. At this point the government forces didn't even try to hide their affiliation with the Syndicate as gangsters and thugs in SUVs, limousines and on foot began to rush to the site to rescue their boss. However, all these were still a minute or so out, though the entire section had been locked down and a call put out for aide. Even now a certain pirate-hunting vessel was making for Kel from the outer part of the system, and the Marines in military bases around the moon were put on stand-by.

Mansion...
Outside the ground and streets held scattered bodies of kitsune, Korr and humans, security men and police, lying facedown in pools of blood or on their backs, eyes glazed, weapons still holstered. Still, some Praetorians had inevitably died, on their sides with swords though their stomachs or shot at close range by panicking officers. This area was theirs for now, though.

The enormous skylight above shattered apart as the Praetorians came though, raining glass down onto the guests and bullets onto many of the security men. People screamed and ran for in, some outside, most receding deeper into the mansion's halls and rooms, leaving the guards to fend for themselves. There was very little cover in the Ball room aside from the pillars, and only a dozen guards, half of which had already been killed while the remainder took potshots where they could. A blaster bolt severed a rope and sent a Praetorians screaming to the floor below, crashing though a chandelier and bouncing off a banister before hitting the marble with several cracking noises. The Syndicate Korr and his men began to back away towards a door, but the scarred man landed in front of him and his guards were struck down. The heavily muscled being roared and swung a massive fist at his face. "You!"

Kartosh had just stepped over to the drink table and reached for a cup when a Praetorian landed on it, smashing the glasses to pieces and overturning pitchers and bowls of drink. The mercenary stared for a moment. They had taken his drink away from him.
Now things were personal.
He stepped forward and gifted the Setulan with an uppercut that made his head snap back before taking him by the shoulders, fluidly flipping him upside down and engaging a brutal Piledriver move, letting him go and standing, taking his pistol out from under his coat. He turned and began to lay down fire with the weapon, a high-frequency blaster whose ballistic equivalent was found in the revolver, piercing even the body armor of the Praetorians at close range.

Skyler immediately went back-to-back with Chloe, two machine pistols appearing from somewhere, and she began to fire into the enemy soldiers as they came down, knowing that if they allowed themselves to be surrounded they would be cut down in a matter of seconds.

Outside...

Rather than being demoralized by the constant sniper barrage, the Praetorians seemed to get even more motivated. One turned to his buddy and smiled.
"Now we're in for a fight!" He waved to a couple of the troops.
"Discs! Take out those Emperor-damned snipers!"
All across the perimeter, some of the purple armored warriors rose. To any looking, they would seem very peculiar, though any of the Xiscapian Marines who had been at Colony 1 would have recognized them...and known what was coming.
These Praetorians had massive backpacks that they carried around with ease, and rows of discs were visibile on them. The Setulanites had never employed grenadiers per say. Rather, they used Disc Throwers.
The specialized demolitions troops started to hurl their discus shaped high explosives, far longer than any normal grenade could reach. The peculiarly shaped bombs started to go off, blasting snipers out of their holes and sending their mangled corpses to the ground. The Praetorians laughed in glee. Thirty three of their number had been killed, but by the Emperor this is what they lived for!

Inside

Kartosh killed two Praetorians, winging a third, who quickly made a dive for cover. Chloe managed to blow away one of the Praetorians and badly injure another. The elite troops, taken by surprise, returned fire. They would recover quickly, but for the moment they were off balance.

The Colonel snarled and ducked back, ripping his combat blade out of his sheath and ramming it to the hilt in the Korr's wrist. He ripped and twisted, half tearing the hand from the alien's arm.
"I'll kill you this time, alien!"

Chloe stayed back to back with Skyler for the moment, shooting alternatively up at the attackers as they came through the roof, then down on the ground at those already in the room. Damnit, but she needed a bigger gun and she needed it quickly.
One of the Praetorians made the mistake of getting too close to the Xiscapian and she reacted quickly, grabbing her katana by one hand and lashing out with it, the cortosis blade cutting through armour and bone. Still no sign of Nathan. Where was he?!

"We need to move!" Chloe called to Skyler over the blasts of laserfire and explosions from outside. She kicked the dead Praetorian from her blade and turned to face her next attacker.

Outside...
Several snipers were killed by the discs, but they were extremely hard to pinpoint, moving after each shot, firing from windows, holes in the walls and over barriers, black on black. And now they knew to shot those of the enemy with disc backpacks, targeting the discs themselves, causing the packs to explode among their own troops. One sniper, very close by, broke cover, slamming up against an overturned APC, ducking. Fire sprayed over it and riddled the armored sides of the vehicle, but he threw what looked like a grenade over the top, the little shape spiraling out before landing on the ground. It looked to be a little black box, but abruptly sprouted spider-like legs, scuttling up over barriers and cover to walk among the Praetorians. Once there it was fired on, but it hissed like a firecracker and exploded violently, spraying fire all over the area, burning on the ground, on soldiers, on bodies and concrete and vehicles and everything. Any attempt to put it out with water only made it burn brighter and fiercer, and for the moment killed several of the elites and destroyed their artificial night vision while the snipers kept picking them off.

Mansion...
Kartosh stepped back under the cover off the overturned table and kneeling down to reload, idly looking at the chandelier one of the soldiers had fallen though. Once finished he took careful aim and fired six shots, severing the ropes holding it in place and causing the entire mass of glass, crystals, candles and fire to plummet down...right onto the heads of the majority of the Praetorians. Skyler leapt out of the way, stumbling back to a pillar, where one of the purple troopers hid. He turned, surprised, before she shoved a knife in his throat and pushed him over into a potted plant. "'Scuse me," she muttered, signaling to Chloe to retreat over to her, searching for more targets all the while.

The Korr roared in agony, backhanding the man with his good arm, sending him sliding across the floor. The Syndicate crime boss then reached down to one of the wounded Praetorians and bodily picked him up, using his injured hand to rip off the Setulan's arm, causing a shriek of pain to emit from the man before he tossed the soldier into a wall. The Korr's hand was attached to the dismembered arm in a death grip, and with a snort of annoyance he ripped his arm away, leaving the hand still on the arm. He approached the scarred man, swinging the arm like a club to crush him. "Your death will be used by mothers to frighten their children into good behavior!"

Outside

The same Praetorian as before turned to a different buddy-the first one had been killed in the firebomb.
"Gutsy bastards," he said casually as he loosed a burst. The shots hit a sniper who had stood for one second too long, blasting him back and ripping open his chest cavity.
The soldiers started to unload into any spot that a sniper might hide from, hitting a few and causing many others to duck. They could hear the sirens and wails of the approacing authorities-they wouldn't be able to get out. A grim sense of finality settled over the remaining troops.
"No surrender!" bellowed one, blowing away a sniper.
"No peace!" yelled another, destroying an approaching SUV with a rocket.
"Glory for the Emperor!" they all yelled.

The last of the Emperor's Chosen started to make their last stand.

Inside...

The man with the scar recovered quickly-the Korr was horrendously strong, but his armor had taken most of the blow. He approached again, knife held low. He didn't bother to speak anymore. He roared, dodging the bludgeoing arm of what had been his first sergeant and ripping his knife upwards in a brutal arc. The Korr's eye was sliced cleanly in two by the mono-edged blade...but the Korr had grabbed the Colonel's arm.

"He's not here! The governor isn't bloody here! All units, back to the ship!" Yelled one of the Praetorians into his vox. He was quickly silenced by Kartosh, a quick shot taking off his head...but it was enough.

Burning Hate

Banes heard the transmission with disbelieve. Had he failed?
No! No, he refused to accept that. He may have lost this battle...but he had not failed. He snapped.
"MAX POWER TO GUNS AND SHIELDS, PREPARE FOR ORBITAL BOMBARDMENT!" he roared to the bridge.
A massive energy spike that was unmistakably that of a warship powering up for combat accompanied the command.

The police, and their Syndicate counterparts, had essentially been given the same order: Terminate with extreme prejudice. That meant that every enemy on the ground was killed, then their weapons taken, bodies stripped of armor, the entire area secured and then locked down. The attack came in full view of the Praetorians, but there was little they could do to counter it. Dozens of SUVs, armored police cruisers, APCs, Syndicate motorcycles roared in, backed by police troopers in full riot gear, Syndicate thugs, SLAM officers and Syndicate enforcers. Overhead came police patrol vessels, carrying snipers, more police and mounted machine guns or repeating blaster cannons, swooping in synchronized with the ground forces.

The crew of the Burning Hate might have had the element of surprise, better weapons and training and the aide of fanatical loyalty, but the kitsune, Alversians and Korr that made up the law enforcement and criminal attackers had the home ground, numbers and spirit. They were going to defend their homes, weather out of protection for the Motherland and her citizens or protection of their interests, and by Qonn no bastard foreigners were going to stand in their way. The lead and energy began to rain down, and now the fight really started. Different calls came out, yelled or over radios, excited voices of thugs and cool, precise sounds of coppers:
"For the Syndicate!"
"For the Shateigashira!"
"Fire team rushes."
"This is Snakebite Three, closing in on the target."
"Go, go, go!"
"Laying down suppressive fire."
"Let's get the motherfuckers!"

The night was lit up by flashes of weapons fire as the police and Syndicate forces clashed with the Praetorians, and soon the streets were covered with bodies, drained power cells and spent shell casings.

Mansion...
The Korr didn't even seem to notice the newest wound, his eye actually drooping and falling away to the floor as he pulled the man towards him, breaking his arm and causing him to drop the knife. His hot breath washed over the face of the scarred man as he picked him up, hands on his sides, digging into the ribs. "Take this name to your death," he snarled, voice like that of Satan himself, blood pouring from the empty socket "Imens." He began to pull, grinning, eyes wild, the humans skin ripping and twisting, bones cracking, as the man screamed in agony. Finally, with a noise none present would ever forget, he literally tore the scarred man in two, spine snapping and organs spilling out in a flood of blood before dropping the mutilated pieces of meat. He looked around the hall, only the mercenaries, a couple of guards and a few Praetorians were left. "You don't mess with the Syndicate," he growled, picking up two dropped assault rifles and lumbering away out into the night, joining the battle.

At the moment the mercenaries and two guards were matched with their enemy, six on six. How would it ultimately turn out? All crouched behind cover, in seconds it would all explode into violence...

Space...
Behind the Burning Hate space warped and a vessel (http://prinzeugn.deviantart.com/art/Space-Battleship-51986076) appeared. It was the XIW Starrider, and it hunted pirates, smugglers and other outlaws though Xiscapian space...at the moment, the Burning Hate and her crew were the biggest criminals around. The Captain didn't even bother with a message, the situation was too urgent, he simply ordered all fire be concentrated on the rear of the enemy warship. Two massive Heavy Ion Cannons spat their blue/white beams, collapsing the shields on the aging ship, before a MAC shell tore the engines apart, crippling the ship. The weapons had overloaded and shut down, effectively disabling the ship and preventing it from firing. The Starrider began to move in, preparing the next step in releasing boarding parties to captured the vessel and her crew.

One of the Praetorians was hit by fire from Chloe's machine pistol. She leapt over the body to reach Skyler, her katana still in one hand. She turned to fire at another Praetorian to find that he had already been hit by someone else. She glanced up and saw that Nathan had at least reached his position. And he was carrying a rather large machine gun. Chloe smiled as Nathan filled the room with rapid laser fire.

Mansion

Overwhelmed by fire, the Praetorians didn't stand a chance. They dropped, bleeding, onto the ground.

In the Colonel's last moments, there was finally an expression in his dead eyes-fear.

Outside

It took twelve minutes of grueling combat before the Praetorians were subdued. They lived up to their creed of never surrendering and never giving in and left parting gifts all over the field for the attacking Xiscapians, ranging from hastily activated mines to grenades. The Police and especially the syndicate took a brutal toll, hundreds being maimed or killed by the elite warriors...but at the end of the day, it was the Kitsune who carried the day.

To top it off, twelve of the Praetorians were captured alive after being knocked out or to badly wounded to commit suicide.

Orbit

Burning Hate may have been a powerful warship in its own right, but it hadn't seen proper maintence for years, and the few seconds it took for the shields to charge were all that was needed. With its engines wiped out before the shields could even raise, only the point defense turrets still had enough power to run.
On the bridge, a deathly silence had fallen. Banes stood, quivering in rage, staring at the ship that had spelled his own doom. He turned to his XO.
"Prepare for boarders. Make them pay!"
Banes knew how futile this action was. If the Praetorians were still alive, he would have given them good odds of holding out till doomsday. But the motley crew of mercenaries who currently held the ship didn't stand a chance.
He hurried off to fetch the prisoner.

Mansion area...
The fight would go down as not only the largest law enforcement operation in Xiscapian history, but also as the most costly. Over a hundred police had been killed or wounded, and far more Syndicate were in an identical state. After the last of the opposition had been killed bomb squads and counterterrorist units were brought in, to disarm and disassemble Praetorian equipment, while a fleet of medical ships and hovercraft came in to transport the wounded to hospitals. The burned-out hulks of two dozen vehicles, SUVs, squad cars and limousines littered the area, and when it was all said and done the entire domestic war had taken over three hundred lives, both law enforcement and citizens, and caused several million dollars in damage. However, it did have it's bright spots: It proved the efficiency of the Kel police force, causing a clamor of citizens to apply for jobs in it, brought to light the full benefits of law enforcement/Syndicate cooperation, and brought more government attention to Kel, equaling more funds and assistance.

Better still, though, were the captured soldiers. They had been ordered to kill every one of the enemy, but an unconscious or badly wounded suspect did not warrant death, so they stripped them out of their armor and cuffed the men, grouping them around a squad car with their hands behind their backs under cover of a dozen watchful police. They would probably be executed for their actions anyway, but a trial would be had regardless. Still, it was wondered who they were and why they were here. These "Praetorians" were not a known terrorist group, nor were they on the list of dangerous hostile government agencies. Who did they belong to?

Mansion...
"We need to get out of here," Skyler waved to the others, pointing to an empty Praetorian helmet she had been listening to. "Chatter says their ship is in orbit but it's been disabled, if we hurry we can make it up there. Can you call the Elixir?" She asked Chloe.

Space...
An Xiscapian drop ship (http://devildalek.deviantart.com/art/Jakkar-Drop-Ship-54452638), filled with forty Ship Boarding Attack Units (SBAU (http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/2/24/Dark_Trooper_Battlefront.jpg)) sped out of one of the Starrider's hangers and made for the Burning Hate. However, it did not search for a hanger or landing bay, rather it attached directly to the hull near the bottom, avoiding PDs, and the soldiers blew though the armor with shaped charges and drills, climbing though the hole one at a time, weapons primed and ready. These were no police, paramilitary or thugs; these were soldiers, hardened by combat and fully equipped with repeating blasters, grenades, armored suits, everything they would need to take an enemy-held ship. It would appear they had emerged in a cargo hold, so they began to spread out, extremely cautious. Capturing an enemy vessel, especially a large one, was a long, potentially costly and tedious process, involving clearing the ship room by room, hall by hall, crew member by crew member. None could be left alive and armed so they could sneak back up on them later.

"Of course," Chloe nodded and glanced up at Nathan. She made a small signal to him. Nathan nodded and vanished. Chloe slipped her pistol away again and moved towards the exit.
"It won't take long to get there and hopefully we can get aboard without anyone noticing" The Kitsune had a quick look from left to right then strode towards the front door.

Mansion...

The six Praetorians who had been captured looked on at the scene in horror upon regaining conciousness. They had been defeated-it was too much to bear for men who had gone through hell and been at a continuous state of war with the universe for almost sixty years.
As they were stripped of their gear, a tatoo stood out on all their shoulders. A golden eagle clutched a parchment that said Pro Setulan, Pro Imperator. One of the guards thought he had heard the name Setulan before, but couldn't quite place it. Regardless, they would find out soon enough.*

Burning Hate

A storm of fire killed the first SBAU trooper instantly and the rest dove for cover. Despite the enthusiastic response, the ship was truly on its last legs. It was short crew, and the majority were simply mercenaries who didn't stand a chance against a determinded enemy. The ship was doomed before the battle had even begun.

Banes quickly punched in the codes to enter the room Ledi was secured in. Drawing a pistol, he approached her. She whimpered and curled into a ball.
"Up! Now!" He grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her to her feet as he started to hurry down the ship to the hanger bay. He would give her up over his dead body.

*OOC: I'm guessing that this takes place before the war with the Danversians but as the assault on my Colony is taking place. Hence why the Guard might have heard the name "Setulan" on the news.

OOC: Wait...did I captured six or a dozen of them? Or when you say six, are you referring to the conscious and not wounded ones?
OOC2: And yes, that timeline is acceptable.
IC:
Burning Hate...
The defenders would quickly find that they were no match for the well-trained, stubborn SBAU. They split up into fire teams, encircling and destroying the opposition, bullets just bouncing off their armor, blaster shots absorbed or reflected. Naturally concentrated fire would bring them down, but the mercenaries were poor shots, panicked by the fearsome assault troops they were fighting, and with little coordination or organization. In the close quarters katanas were being drawn, separating limbs from bodies and running the thugs though, splattering gore on the deck and bulkheads. Still, it would be a while, the SBAU only had rough estimates of how many crew this ship held, so they would have to make sure they made a clean sweep of it.

Elsewhere...
"Bastard!" She beat at him ineffectually with balled-up hands, tears rolling down her face. "You won't get away with this! My daddy's a very powerful man you know!"

Elixir of Life...
Skyler had kicked off her shoes and cut away the bottom part of her dress, allowing her to move and run freely, not even trying to disguise the weapons she carried. Kartosh shifted uncomfortably in his suit, but there was no time to change, they had to get the guy in charge of this thing before the government did. "Can't you make this bucket of bolts go any faster?" he complained as they lifted off.

Chloe had no need to cut her dress, for it was already designed to permit maximum movement. However, she too kicked her shoes off and settled down in the Elixir with the other three Mercenaries. They were in space in no time, in time to see the Starrider orbiting the Burning Hate.
"Bloody hell," Nathan stated from the cockpit, "Your lot are on the ball today"

OOC:Sorry, meant a dozen...will edit.
IC:

Burning Hate

Under normal circumstances, the Storm-Class frigate (of which the Burning Hate was a member) held 5600 spacers, Planetary Guard anti-boarding units, and other assorted crew. Had the Burning Hate been up to Setulanite Naval Standards, there was not a chance that the SBAU troopers would be able to get past the anti-boarding teams, much less the crew, who would take up arms to defend the ship.

Fortunately for the SBAU, Burning Hate was nothing like up to standards.

While it may have been the terror of the shipping lanes, it was simply not up to scratch so far as space engagements are concerned. There were a grand total of three thousand six hundred men (and women) on the ship.
Only Seven hundred of them were even paid.
All the rest were the captured and enslaved spacers who had fallen victim to the pirate vessel and, sensing their bid at freedom, they rose up to kill those who had made their lives hell for so long.
The number of motivated soldiers on the ship was so low, they barely outnumbered the SBAU three to one...and none were trained in shipboard combat.

***

Banes shrugged off the blows and hurried down the hall. He spoke to Ledi pleasantly, in a carefree tone.
"Oh, I know. Why do you think we took you? He has already sent mercenaries to kill me and retrieve you, have no doubt...but don't worry, I made sure they died painfully for it. Now shut up and stop struggling, we're almost there."

The Elixer of Life could see a hanger bay where they could land, open to space. It was quickly apparent that a void shield was in use, and they would be safe to enter...at least, safe from the airless void.

Burning Hate...
Unlike the ground battle, the struggle for the Burning Hate quickly turned into a slaughter, as slaves and pressed crew turned on their masters, making it much easier for the armored shock troops to move though the rooms. For now they were content to let the ship's own crew do their job for them, and concentrated on securing the bridge area, escape pods and hanger bays. A squad was moving rapidly to the hanger that Banes and his captive were currently nearing, ruthlessly cutting or blasting their way though opposition. It was a race by men and kitsune who didn't know they were competing: Who would make it to the bay first, pirate or soldiers? For though the SBAU had to fight their way though the crew, Banes had to contend with the weight and struggle of Ledi as he sought to escape.

Elixir of Life...
"The government doesn’t take kindly to party crashers," muttered Kartosh, watching the Starrider warily. He had been pursued by the criminal-hunting vessel more than once, and did not relish facing it again under any circumstances. Meanwhile Skyler leaned forward, pointing to the shielded hanger bay. "There, land there. We'll want to avoid as much of the fighting as we can."

"Okay dokey," The Elixir glided easily into the hangar area, Nathan sweeping the hangar quickly for traps before setting his vessel down in the dark room. The ramp lowered and Chloe was quickly off, checking for any ambush. There was none and so she gave the signal for the rest to join her.
Nathan was last off,
"Now, where can our man have buggered off too?" He asked in a cheery voice, clutching his machien shotgun and wearing his normal clothes, having been provided time to change. Chloe had had no such luxury.

Burning Hate

The crew made one last, desperate attack on the SBAU, fully fifty of the mercenaries throwing themselves at the troopers.
On the bridge, the SBAU were greeted with a volley of high intensity fire. Stiff resistance finally began.

Banes was dragging Ledi behind him in the hanger bay, heading for a shuttle, when the Elixer entered the void shield. He recoiled, covering his face...and his grip slipped on his hostage.

Burning Hate...
The soldiers recoiled and hunkered down, mowing the enemy down as they came, a solid line of troopers blowing away the mercenaries. The uncoordinated, untrained, poorly equipped enemy provided little challenge for the tough commandos to subdue, using blaster weapons and their swords to make a carpet of dead on the deck before them. When the smoke cleared it was obvious who the victors were, the sprawled corpses of the mercenaries littering the halls, SBAU moving among them like silent phantoms. They checked for pulses and those who still lived were given aide: Pointless really, all these criminals faced were execution or life imprisonment, but even a wounded enemy deserved help. The ship was theirs, so they began to move the prisoners back to the drop ship, pile up the dead and move the former slaves down to the hold, where they would be sent to Kel or Xiscapia to either be put on trial and imprisoned if they were criminals, offered citizenship if not, or sent back to their nation or planet of origin.

Bridge...
A SBAU collapsed under the fire, toppling to the deck with a clatter. The others spread out around the main doors, protected by the bulkheads from the fire that sprayed though. Clipped, precise military talk was exchanged on their secure channel, and a solution was agreed to. The soldiers took out grenades, canisters, and, removing the pins, tossed them though the gap. The things bounced off computers and bulkheads, spraying a gaseous substance as they did so.

The grenades held a nasty cocktail of chemicals, which would have three ultimate results: Tears making the vision of the mercenaries blurred and itchy, burning rashes forming on unprotected skin, and a violent, painful cough. All were not lethal, but intended to disorient and decrease the combat effectiveness of the enemy, stumbling about, blind, retching and scratching themselves, at least one hand off their weapons. As the bridge was screened behind the swirling colors of white and green gas the SBAU stormed though, helmets effortlessly identifying targets though the fog. Blaster fire erupted as they began to take the bridge crew down, avoiding harming the computers or equipment there. The team wasn't large, only nine soldiers, but unaffected by the gas against an unprepared and confused foe, they might as well have been a hundred.

Hanger Bay...
Ledi was momentarily surprised by Bane's mistake, but she quickly took hold of the situation. Wrenching herself away from the man, she turned and delivered a Swift Foot of Justice to his groin. At the same time Kartosh had brought his pistol up and fired, the shot sparking off the side of the shuttle, Skyler moving around him to try and get at their adversary. Finally the doors behind Banes exploded open and a dozen SBAU charged in, electronics tinged voices demanding everyone lay down their weapons and surrender, rifles up and swiveling.

Chloe had fired as soon as Bane had entered the room and now obiently lowered her rifle. However, she did not drop it. Staring at the SBAU in her red dress, a small smile on her lips. She was still wearing her red ballgown and now she glanced over at the SBAU, wondering what they would think of her and Skyler,
"Don't shoot!" She called, "Friendly!"

Burning Hate

Banes crumpled at the hard blow to his crotch, dropping his pistol in the process. He struggled to his feet, gasping for breath, only to find a dozen rifles pointing at him. He fell back to his knees, totally defeated. With a hate-filled look at the SBAU, he raised his hands above his head...and passed out.

The bridge crew were murdered to a man by the shocktroops, not a single shot even harming the elite troopers. They didn't even have time to destroy the computer systems.

Hanger...
The soldiers fanned out a bit, so as to cover the mercenaries and the unconscious Banes. "Drop your weapons!" called one to the foursome, while two others moved in to cuff Banes and get Ledi. The young Halfbreed, however, scurried out of the grasp of the one sent to take her, causing him to stumble with a curse. "Hey!" She fairly dashed around Skyler and Chloe to hide behind them, like a frightened child looking around at strangers from behind her mother. Now full attention was on them, the SBAU lowering their weapons in a way that indicated they could be back up again in an instant.

There was a moment of uncertainty. There hadn't been any kitsune among Bane's crew or slaves, but these people weren't government officials or soldiers. A captive had taken refuge behind them, probably scared by the hulking, machine-like exterior of the armored SBAU, and now there was a stand-off. Finally one of the troopers stepped forward, rifle held pointing at the deck. "Who are you, and why are you here?" he demanded. Kartosh and Skyler exchanged a brief glance but said nothing.

Chloe too, said nothing, however, she did put a hand across Ledi, as if protecting her from the SBAU.
"Same as you, I think," Nathan had climbed from the cockpit and was now looking at the SBAU with great interest,
"Name's Lieutenant Nathaniel T. Barnes. I think a well done is in order for a quick capture of this hulk no?" He raised his eyebrows and laughed.

The SBAU was not amused. "Well, 'Lieutenant'," he said the word as though skeptical of such a rank, "you have told me nothing. Regardless of her own feelings, I cannot allow you to walk away with Mrs. Ledi there. As it is, you are violating a restricted area, in close proximity to a site which was just struck by a terrorist attack, unauthorized in Xiscapian space, armed without permits I'm sure, and probably at least another dozen breaches. I could have the whole lot of you arrested, but I'd be willing to forgo that for some simple answers. Are we clear?"

"Well, permits," Nathan grinned and vanished for a moment, returning with several documents,
"This one," He handed one over, "Is an order from APNHQ permitting me to travel in restricted areas of both the APN and the XN. You will also find the signature of Admiral Reynolds upon it as well. Check it out, you will find it geniune,"
Nathan smiled, the order was an old one from the Elixirhad done some pirate hunting, but Alversian records wouldn't show that, they would only show the order was geniune. Handed from Admiral Reynods to Lieutenant Barnes for his assignment. What the assignment was, he would not be able to tell.

What was even better was that the order was for a ship known as the Black Raider. The Elixir bore no name and no insignia to make it seem any different from any other vessel. To anyone who did not know the pair, their ship was the Black Raider.

The SBAU looked at the proffered documents, taking them and appearing to read them closely. Undoubtedly they were authentic, with signatures from both Grand Admirals. But something didn't match up...
The soldier looked up, staring hard at the ship. He then looked down at the papers, then back up to the ship. "It appears to say here," he pointed out, "that a vessel called the Black Raider was authorized to hunt pirates within Allied space. Obviously, you would be Captain of such a ship, yes?" He waited for the affirmation before continuing. "But that craft there," he pointed to the Elixir, "obviously matches known photos of the smuggling vessel Elixir of Life, owned and operated by two mercenaries by the names of Lieutenant Nathaniel T. Barnes and Chloe, well-documented by Customs and in XIN records. You identified yourself as a Lieutenant, didn't you?" He chuckled. "Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that, Mr. Barnes." He tossed the papers back to the Alversian.

"Look," Kartosh raised his hands defensively, palms out. "There's no need for trouble, we were just leaving, eh?" He nodded sincerely. "Trust us, we're supposed to be here, I have a contract from Cuqa himself-" He made a show of rummaging about in his pockets, face falling. "Uh...I must have left it in my other pants pocket...the suit, you know, I'm not used to it..." He put a fist over his mouth and coughed sheepishly into it. Skyler stepped in. "Look, just get Cuqa on the line, he'll tell you, we're private contractors who are to bring back his daughter to him."
The SBAU still had his helmet on, giving him no expression but the hard visage of the faceplate, but it was obvious he didn't believe a word of it. "Cover them," he waved to the other soldiers. "I'll check, but if Cuqa doesn’t know you, I'm placing you all under arrest and impounding that ship." He nodded to the Elixer as he walked a short distance away, using his intercom link. "Black Raider my tail..."

A few minutes later the mercenaries had been released with Ledi, upon the distraught cries of the ladder and Cuqa's angry warnings that he would have the SBAU cleaning out latrines for their next assignment if his contractors and daughter were kept in custody. They were all aboard the Elixir once again as they proceeded with haste down to Xiscapia, on Cuqa's orders. Kartosh leaned up against a bulkhead in the cockpit, near Nathan. "Black Raider..." he snorted, snickering quietly to himself. Meanwhile Skyler and Chloe tended to Ledi, who, though she had not truly been abused, had suffered superficial bruises and cuts that needed attention. She was beside herself with excitement, now that the danger was gone, she was going to see her father again, and she was riding in on a smuggling ship with some of the coolest people she'd ever met. "Thank you for rescuing me!" she squealed for about the hundredth time, looking at the two females with adoring eyes. There was a reason Kartosh had moved to the cockpit...

"Hey! hey! hey!" Nathan warned from the pilot's seat, he was operating the controls, steering them directly for Cuqa's mansion. Obviously the Trillionaire would have made sure that the vessel was unmolested as it descended into atmosphere,
"It's a good trick, just give to someone more stupid." Nathan seemed to be speaking to himself as he said the second statement, "Ah well, there always a next time," He gave a grin, the grin of someone who knew he was going to be caught again and the same trick would have to be used at some point on some other hapless Customs Official, or ship Captain, or Marine. There was always someone.

"Hold still," Chloe stated gently, as she rubbed a bandage along the young Girl's arm, "I can't clean this cut if you keep moving."
She was a little uncomfortable with the Girl's adoration but she was able to contain any ill thoughts. The Kitsune had just been rescued after all,
"Looking forward to seeing home again?" Chloe cursed herself even as she said it, but she wanted something to keep the girl distracted from the fact she in a Mercenary ship. And quite an expensive one at that.

"New one born every minute," Kartosh muttered as they neared the island, swooping down towards the landing pad outside the massive mansion.
"Oh yes!" Ledi grinned in delight. "My house is sooo big, the one on the island, anyway. We've got about a bajillion servants and all these guards, only they don't talk much, and the chefs who make all this delicious food for me and my daddy, oh you'll have to meet Daddy he's so big and strong and smart, and there's these guys that come over from Rio Casa and they're very nice, they give me presents and Daddy and them have parties everyone dresses up and I get to mingle and it's so much fun..."

"Great Qonn," Kartosh rolled his eyes heavenward from the front. "Dosen't she ever shut up?" The young kitsune had talked non-stop as soon as she'd been able to find her voice, and it was beginning to grate on the nerves of the grizzled mercenary. Finally they landed, settling down, surrounded by a small army of servants and guards from Cuqa's private security force. The Xiscapian himself was waiting on the grass nearby, and the moment the door opened he started forward. Ledi took one look outside and sprang up, nearly knocking the shorter Chloe over with her enthusiasm, and raced out to her father. "Daddy!" Cuqa himself began to run, and they made just beyond the pad, embracing each other tightly, tears running down the faces of both. "Oh Ledi, thank Qonn you're safe..." Kartosh made a mock gagging noise which turned into a real one as Skyler elbowed him in the side. Now was not the time to lose pay over disrespect...

As soon as the vessel was down and Ledi hads departed, Nathan hopped ship and joined the other three Mercenaries on the ground, ignored amongst the excitment of retrieving the Trillionaire's daughter. Nathan slid in beside Chloe, who was steadying herself after nearly being thrown to her feet by the excitable Ledi,
"Aww," He said quietly to Chloe, "It's enough to break our heart isn't it?" He said it in a rather insolent tone,
"No," Chloe did not even look at him, "But cost us that pay packet and it'll be enough to break your nose." Nathan was silent but he stared at the sky, rocked on the balls of his feet and hummed to himself.
He was happy to wait for his fortune to come to him.

After a moment both Cuqa and Ledi stood, hand in hand, and walked back to the mansion. The business executive didn't give the mercenaries any notice, but Ledi flashed them a bright smile as they vanished into their home, shortly followed by all but two of the guards and a servant, who came forward to the foursome by the Elixir.
"So when do we get paid?" growled Kartosh.
"Do you possesses the head of the man responsible for this?" the servant asked primly.
There was an embarrassed silence.

Undisclosed Location...
Shortly after the Burning Hate had been taken, Banes all but disappeared. Though the police had custody of the Praetorians and the surviving crew members were being transferred to various prisons, the only thing to mark the passing of the Captain had been a single kitsune in a dark suit and sunglasses, signing off papers deeding over Banes to the general government. The exact transport of the Setulan was not known to anyone except to those who did it, and Banes himself was kept unconscious the entire time. When he finally became aware, the man felt that his hands were tied to something behind him, there was a gag in his mouth, plugs in his ears, and a hood over his head. He could discern nothing beyond the total blackness of the cloth, could not hear, speak or move, rendered totally immobile, deaf and dumb.

Abruptly the hood was ripped off his head and the plugs popped from his ears by some unknown person behind him. All he could see was an incredibly bright light, shining directly into his face, stabbing into his eyes and forcing him to close them after the darkness of the hood. When he opened them again he thought he could see something like the vague form of a man behind the light, but it was impossible to tell: There could have been no one, or a dozen people there. The floor was bare concrete and Banes had been tied with what felt like simple rope to a wooden chair, still wearing his same clothes, though all pockets, holsters and pouches were empty and the boots had been stripped from his feet. The gag had been left on. After about a minute, someone spoke from behind the light, voice flat and unemotional.

"So. Your crew tells us your name is Johnathan Banes, Captain of the Burning Hate. Your men are not Alversian, nor are they Tanaran or Calaverian. Your soldiers wear an armor unfamiliar to us, and use military weapons and equipment. Your vessel is obviously a warship. Who are you? What are you? Tell me, Captain, are you going to tell us the answers to what we ask? Or as we going to have to help you along a bit? A simple nod or shake of the head will suffice."

Banes shuddered.
He was no longer the proud captain. He was no longer the brutal warrior. He was a defeated man.

He nodded.

"Well," Nathan took a breath, "You see, there's a funny story behind that," He grinned, "You see, when we left the ship with said daughter gloriously free and in our delightful company, we omitted to mention that the head was still attached to the body of the criminal and he was, well, alive and kicking so far as I could tell." Nathan shurgged, "Besides what was he going to do with the head? Put it on the front of his car, perhaps? Or use it as a desk ornament?"

Chloe groaned. It would be Nathan to say something stupid like that. She had the sneaking suspicion that this would be a rather fruitless discussion.

"Very good," The gag was removed and Banes could speak and breathe freely. Apart from this action there was no indication of further movement from anywhere. The voice spoke again. "Now, answer the questions, Captain, the whole truth: From where do you come, how did you get your hands on over a thousand loyal soldiers and crew plus military hardware and an entire frigate, and why did you come here?"

Cuqa's Mansion...
"Ah, sir," the servant seemed smug, "the contract you entered when excepting this job clearly stated that you had to kill the man responsible for this outrage, and bring his head back to Master Cuqa. Failing that you would bring back some evidence of his death. Sadly, you have done neither. Do you expect, ladies and gentlemen, though I use the terms loosely, to be paid for doing only half the work?"

Banes squeezed his eyes shut against the glare for a moment, and then started to speak.

"I came from Setulan Empire. Most of us did, at first. It was the Great War, when the Republicans and the Traitor General tried to sieze power from the Emperor. After several years, the Republicans led us into a trap. They crushed the Imperial Fleet. I managed to escape. It has been almost sixty years since that day."

He left out what he had done right before he had made a run for the safety of deep space.

"I made a random jump and landed in a system I didn't know. My frigate has been mine the entire time, and I had no desire to give it back to the traitor bastards. We quickly intercepted a merchant ship, I don't remember the name, and captured its crew. Killed them all, of course, but we learned we were in the Xiscapian system. We started to pirate our way across the your space. The vast majority of my crew started to leave, flaking off, wanting to find a peaceful life-I imagine a large number still live in Alversia somewhere."

Silence.

"So, I did what I had to to keep my ship running. I started to enslave the crews of merchant ships that I ran across, and ransom the cargos. It has worked for this entire time.
"The majority of my crew were simply mercenaries, brought on to take up the slack and give me some muscle. It was a necessity, but I did not shirk."

A bitter laugh.

"Military hardware? Pah! The trash my crew used was produced by you animals, mostly. Even my Praetorians had stooped to using domestically made weapons. Pathetic."

He had answered the questions of the interrogator, but he kept rambling-he couldn't stop himself.

"My Praetorians are the ones your police battled on the ground. They were the best of the Emperor's soldiers, his personal army. The man who led them had been a Colonel. I used them for all the dirty jobs-close combat, kidnapping..."
"I took Cuqa's daughter for the ransom. With that money, I could have hired a mercenary army to retake Setulan, or at least cause them so much pain they felt it for an eternity."

There was a cold silence. It wasn't the innocents he had killed, necessarily, or the slavery or his evil intentions, bad enough as they were. Banes was unaware of it, but in describing the Xiscapians he had used exactly the wrong word.
Animals.
"How very interesting," the voice cut in. "The Setulan Empire is now the Setulan Republic, Captain. Your ship has been impounded. Your crew and soldiers are dead or captured. Cuqa's daughter is safe. And here you are. You have failed, and it amuses me to tell you your plan was not even original. No, someone else already tried that, with considerably more style, power and finesse."

There was a moment of reflective stillness.
"Do you know what we do to slavers around here, Captain? Of course you do. It will happen to your crew, but, sadly, it will not happen to you. Tell me, how would you like to see your old friends back in Setulan again? I'm sure they are simply dying," this last word was hissed with a kind of sick pleasure, "to see you."

Banes looked up, a look of pure horror on his face.
"No...no no no no NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

He passed out again.

"He...You...WHAT!!" Nathan lost control for a moment until Chloe's elbow in his ribs forced him to silence. The stunning Kitsune flashed a cute smile at the Servant and gave a small nod,
"If half is what we deserve then half is what we get" She gave a little wink then looked at the other two Mercenaries,
"Myself and Nathan accept those terms, how about you?"

"Take him away," a vaguely seen hand moved though the darkness as it was waved, and two kitsune in suits picked Banes up under the armpits, dragging him away, the rouge Captain's bare feet bumping along on the floor. Two malicious yellow eyes followed him, with the barest suggestion of a sharp-toothed smile. "Đi những gì xung quanh, đi xung quanh..." came the voice reflectively.
What goes around, comes around...

Cuqa's Manor...
"Half?" said Kartosh and the servant at the exact same time, one with anger, the other with surprise. The robed kitsune shook his head. "Madam, this is not a negotiation. The return of Mistress Ledi, the head of the man responsible and the destruction of his organization, for twenty five million credits each to those who completed these tasks. You and your partners have only done two-thirds of the contract, and are therefore not entitled to any payment."

"Now listen here you motherf-" Kartosh started forward, but Skyler put a hand out across his chest and stepped up to the servant, pass the others. "Master Cuqa is going to be a very unhappy man if he doesn’t pay what he owes," she said quietly, "because we're not leaving until we get what we want. I understand this manor has an extensive wine cellar with vintages hundreds of years old, worth hundreds of thousand of credits." She jerked her thumb over her shoulder. "Have you seen how much beer those two guys can drink in just an hour?"

"Are you threatening-" the kitsune began, but Skyler interrupted him.
"Threatening Cuqa with only with our presence. We don't need guns or bombs or even weapons to be destructive. I'm sure our absence from his property would be best for everyone involved," she raised her eyebrows, "yes?"
The servant looked at her for a moment, then produced a datapad from inside his robes. "Follow the instructions here to the letter and you will receive your payment," he sniffed, indicating the account numbers and access codes specially reserved for the mercenaries. "Good day to you."

As he and the guards left, Kartosh spat on the ground and took out a cigarette. "What a douche, he had it the whole time. Playing games with us..." He lit the small cylinder, puffing quietly and tapping ashes into a nearby potted plant. "I think that about wraps it up."

Nathan and Chloe watched with a combination of amusement and disappointment as they left the manor. Chloe was amused at how easily Skyler had been able to get the money from the servant, Nathan was disappointed that all that drink wasn't going to be his.
'Ah well,' he thought, 'a quarter billion will buy a lot of beer for someone. Like me' He smiled at the thought.

Chloe knew instantly what the thought was about and didn't bother probing. She just looked at the two Mercenaries as they reached the crossroads at the landing platform. One led to the Elixir, the other to the Star Snake.
"Well," She didn't seem embarressed, just a little sad, "This does seem to wrap things up," She looked at Nathan who was trying to work out just how many beers a man could buy for a quarter billion. The Kitsune shook her head.

"What?" Nathan looked baffled by her expression, "Wha? What!" He suddenly realised the look his partner was giving him, "No way! No bloody way! Not a chance! I am not squirreling away all my money like some Accoutant until it's convenient" He huffed.

Chloe let him finish, then she spoke,
"But the Elixir needs a few upgrades. We need new engines, new armour, a new interior and new weapons. There's only one starbase in the galaxy updates Black-Phoenix-Class attack ships and they're not cheap"

"Sit 'em down," Nathan persisted stubbornly, knowing the prices Chloe was talking about would leave them with very little money left over. Barely enough to drunk on once, "Flash the cash, get 'em hammered then 'pursuade' them to give us a discount"

"Or," Chloe stated again quietly but firmly, "We can stay good customers, keep their co-operation and do this legally"

"I will not"

"You will"

"I won't"

"You will"

"Make me"

"I will,"
Chloe lashed forward and grabbed Nathan by the ear, twisting it in her fingers for a few moments. It was only after a few seconds pleading from Nathan that she let go. She waited for a few moments while he rubbed his damaged earlobe, then raised her eyebrows,

"Well?" She asked

"I have a great idea!" Nathan seemed to ignore her, "Why don't we get those upgrades to the Elixir! I've been looking those new guns for ages!"

A small smile crept across the Kitsune's face,
"I thought you'd say that," She turned to Kartosh and Skyler, spectators to her 'pursuasion' of Nathan. Chloe could be very pursausive when she wanted to be,
"Well, this is it," She said, "It's been fun, all of this" She indicated behind her, "I'm sure we'll run into each other soon enough so I'll say a brief good bye and count down the days until we meet again," She offered Skyler a warm hug, quite un-kitsune like, while Nathan seemed to be daydreaming.

"Yeah," he said absentmindedly, "It's been a real blast. Hopefully we run into each other more valuable circumstances," He grinned and shook Kartosh's hand, bowed to Skyler, then the two Mercenaries headed for their own ship. The two argued as usual quietly, nathan saying something about firepower, Chloe about stealth. The arguement died though, as the ship's ramp came down and both vanished into it's bowels.

Finally, the Elixir slowly lifted into the air and turned through ninty degrees. A burst of blue flame later and the vessel heading for orbit, becoming smaller and smaller with each passing second until it had finally vanished.

The two Xiscapian mercenaries watched their partners go. Usually rivals and competitors, occasionally partners and a team, and always friends, Kartosh had to admit they worked well together. "So..." he looked down at the piece of paper in his hand. "A quarter of a billion credits, at half a credit a beer-"
"Don't even think about it," interjected Skyler. "After getting those fake I.D.s made, our account-"
"Your account," muttered Kartosh reproachfully.
"is a bit dry," continued Skyler as if she hadn't heard him. "We need to pad it again with the cash, and now that we know about the Setulan Republic, we're going to need plenty of money for contacts and informants there. It's a new business opportunity, you need to think," she tapped the side of her head, "like a businessman."
"Why would I do that if I've got you?"
Skyler just sighed. "Let's just go."
"But maybe Cuqa would invite me in for a drink-"
"And maybe I'll become the next Empress," Skyler shot back. "We're leaving."
"Back to Stick's place?"
"No, after all that I think I need to sleep for a while-"
"But we can sleep at Stick's place!"
"Kartosh, you know no one actually sleeps at Stick's place unless you hit them over the head."

They boarded the Star Snake in silence. Kartosh sighed wearily to himself, checking the smuggling ship's controls and data readouts. "Hey, we've got a message."
"From who?"
"Looks Like the Syndicate, they've got a job for us in a few days."
"Oh for the love of Qonn..."
Kartosh grinned. "Always on the move."

OOC: This is my final post in this thread. A little shorter than I was expecting perhaps but still a lot of fun :D

The day was warm. Brilliantly warm. The planet was Illan, one of many within the Alversian system and renowned for a tourist hotspot. Unlike Alversia, there was no rainy season and the planet seemed to consist entirely of golden beaches, tall palmtrees with strong trunks and sweet coconuts. The buildings along the waterfront were tall and white, their smooth surfaces gleaming in the sunlight. It had only been a few days since the news had reached the area that Ledi, the daughter of Blastech Trillionaire Cuqa, had been rescued under mysterious circumstances from the ship of an unknown race. That was of relief for the people who strolled and relaxed on the beaches of Illan, for only the richest of the rich could afford the rates offered by the highly expensive planet.

It had no natives, save those who now kept the planet's tourism running, while there was little to no wildlife above the water. Beneath it there were fish of every size, shape and colour, enough to keep a man content for a lifetime. The beach, however, was not where the main action took place, that was occuring behind closed doors, away from the main beaches and Villas.

Though Illan was theoritically in Alversian space, and most maps would show it thus, the system was actually part of the Iraxan Union, a series of rather shady merchants who saw the law as no reason why they should be denied maximum profit. This was a land gangs and slaves, ridiculously rich alongside those who had had everything taken from them. Well, until now.

The main warehouse was two blocks from the beach, enough out of the way never to be noticed. However, in this rather delapidated building, patrolled by armed guards, there worked just a dozen people, slaves all of them. All of them were women either kidnapped from their homes or those who could not repay their depts any other way. It was a harsh place and in such beauty, for the sun roasted all beneath it.

The two Guards standing at the door did not notice anything at first. They were so used to not being disturbed that they had let their Guard down. They lowered it even more when they turned to see what the supposed threat was. It was Kitsune, a female, a small one. She was walking towards them. Even from here, they could see the nerves and smell the fear. The girl looked losgood money for workers, more depending on how pretty they were. Judging by this one, the two Guards would probably be paid enough to retire on.

Then one of the Guards made a mistake and tried to pet the Kitsune on the head, in the same way one would do to a dog. In one swift motion, the Kitsune had changed stance from one of timidy to one of strength and power. She twisted the first Guard's arm while reaching up her sleeve and throwing something at the second. He was surprised to see a dagger lodge in his throat while the first Guard recieved a series of kicks to the head and face, enough to stun a Korr. Following the few seconds of scuffling, there was silence again in the alley.

The Kitsune leant down to pick up the machine gun the Guard had been carrying and stopped. She waited for a moment, all signs of nervousness gone. For this was what she did.

Then a tremendous explosion erupted from the warehouse, blowing the entire top storey into ash, sending screams from every man, woman and child on the beaches as the sound roared down to them. As the debris from the explosion settled, the Kitsune appeared to have a smile on her face. The plan had been one of stealth, one where they would take out the Guards, rescue the slaves, then signal to the small Alversian Customs Flotilla outside orbit to finish the job. In other words, the plan had gone disasterously wrong.

'In other words' The Kitsune though to herself as she kicked open the wooden door in front of her and leapt into the burning inferno, 'Just another day.'