*The room was silent...eerily silent, but that was strangely comforting to the undersized Rutian. She enjoyed the silence. It’s hard to sneak up on someone in this utter stillness.* *The briefing room was the heart of Battleteam Talzin’s underground headquarters and lay directly below the brick and steel of the Raging Rancor Swoop and Speeder repair shop. That shop was always noisy, however a kilometer of dirt makes for effective soundproofing.* *Sinya'ni crossed the floor to the central holomap. The soft padding of her bare feet on the stone floor and the whir of the holoprojector coming to life broke the silence.* “Time to see what this ragtag team is made of,” *the leader of Tyranus’ newly christened battleteam murmured as she brought up the technical read outs for the upcoming mission.* *The Tyranus leadership had not wasted anytime recruiting the two Oppress defectors. The house felt threatened by House Ventress and their highly successful battleteam led by Sinya’ni’s former master, Aleister. So when they heard that two members had left, they were eager to recruit them for Tyranus. Now, with the addition of a few more operatives, they were ready to be tested.* *The Twi’lek prepared the briefing and waited for the others to arrive...*
*Walking into the new underground HQ the former Admiral Anzati woman quirks an eyebrow at her surroundings and smirks slightly at Sinya’ni in greeting as she settles into a chair on what would be her friend’s right hand if she were sitting.*
*TuQ shuffled his way into the Sleepers Nest, stifling a yawn and shaking the restlessness from his weary bones. He hadn’t been sleeping well lately, but a quick stim would have him ready for whatever the day brought.* “Morning,” *he mumbled to those gathered already. He wasn’t even sure what time of day it actually was with no windows this far underground.*
Ruthven walked into the room. It was his first time here. Out of habit, he quickly scanned the room and then nodded in acknowledgement to the others present. The Anzati knew a couple of them by name, but the others were yet unknown. He merely waited for the meeting to begin, but walked around the room, drinking in the art pieces on the walls. Art had always fascinated him.
“Good morning. Time to get started,” *the blue Twi’lek in nightsister robes addressed the gathering Plagueians.* “My name is Sinya’ni. You can call me Sinya’ni, mistress, or boss.” *She studied the new faces for a moment.* “Some of you I know, others have just been assigned by Tyranus leadship. We will all have a chance to get to know each other as we travel to our first mission together...which as it happens, I will speak about now. Intelligence reports an important piece of cargo has gone missing and we are being sent to reacquire it.” *An eerie green light cast shadows on the walls as the lights dimmed and the holoprojector displayed a representation of a deep space facility.*
“We leave first thing tomorrow. Any questions?”
*Sarai just quirks an eyebrow at Sinya’ni as she steps fully into the light wearing her old uniform from 127 years ago, with the colors still looking as sharp as the day she was presented with the blue and red Admiral’s uniform. Sarai nods toward the screen.* “Is the cargo classified or can we know exactly what we are looking for? Just asking so I can plan contingencies.”
*The Twi’lek nodded* “That is a good question, it is a large rectangular box. That is all I know.”
*nods and looks somewhat perplexed*
The Anzat gave a curt nod but posed a few questions. "A large rectangular box. That's too wide I think; there may be other cargo containers of the same shape. Going through all that will take up valuable time, and can make it...challenging if we come under fire. Also, the space station seems to be somewhat large. Perhaps we'll need more troops to cover all areas in time?"
*TuQ sat with his blaster resting gently on his lap as he polished its well worn barrel.* “We could divide and conquer. Cover more ground that way” *the Kel Dor proposed.* “Currently, I’m more concerned about who has this box right now and what kind of resistance they may put up. Any ideas….boss?”
*Sinya listened to the concerns and nodded.* “Yes, you bring up valid points, as for troops, they will bring to much attention. We will be without backup on this one. As far as finding the item, it should be clearly marked unless it has been repackaged. I agree with TuQ'uan. Once we arrive, we should split up in pairs to search. That way we can cover more ground and be less conspicuous. Any other questions, concerns, or suggestions before we proceed?” *She looked around at the gathered comrades. She felt certain they could handle whatever this mission planned to throw at them. It was probably just lost in the currier service. Happened all the time...nothing to worry about.*
*Sarai looks at Sinya’ni thoroughly probably making her young Twi’lek friend thinking better about inviting her to the Battleteam. Sarai was using Force Sense as she knew Sinya’ni was holding back, and seeing if she would do well hiding her emotions, as any leader should.*
*Sarai tapped into her leader’s feelings. Initially she felt hesitation, uncertainty, even a little fear. Then a sudden flash of anger and then–nothing. Sinya’ni was now staring directly into your eyes.*
*Sarai nods her head at Sinya’ni and turns to the screen, verifying that the Battleteam leader was ready for this mission.* “Who’s going to be piloting the ship?” The Anzati woman asks.
*TuQ stood, holstered his weapon and pushed his wide brimmed hat back on his head with a single finger.* “I guess that’s where I come in.” *He really hoped that came across as cool as he pictured it in his head.*
Ruthven again nodded once to show he has understood, and that he had no more to ask. Now all he wanted to know was when they would be departing, for he needed to meditate a bit before departure. Not a necessity though, and he could do it on the way as well on the flight. However, it helped. Meditations always sharpened his senses and powers.
*the group seemed satisfied that the briefing had reached its conclusion. Sinya adjourned them.* “Well then, get packed, get rested. We leave at 0600 tomorrow.” *She turned and left the room.*
———————
*It took a week to get to their destination. Sinya spent most of her time in meditation.*
Ruthven spent most of his time in his own quarters. Due to his reclusive habits, he was given a wide berth by the other crew members of the ship. There was talk that there was an Anzati aboard. Whether Jedi, Sith or Non-Force User, friends or foes, Anzati are seldom a source of good news. As for the Anzati himself, he was not bothered by such views. The more they stayed away from his affairs, the better. He was not hungering for Soup as of now either, for he had taken his fill from an 'unwilling' victim before leaving the city. Who it was and how it happened, few knew.
*Sarai spent most of the week mediating near the cockpit in case something went wrong, and she had fed on soup during her last mission the crew knew she always tended to feed on her enemies so they weren’t bothered by the Anzati female as much as they were the male. Sarai could go months without needing to feed, so she should still be good for another few months, providing she didn’t get a major injury on this mission.*
*You have reached the system. After leaving the “Matron” in a nearby system, you take Sinya’ni’s personal freighter to the final coordinates. Seemingly motionless among a sea of starships and satellites above the twinkling world of Brentaal, Sel Zonn Station grows larger in your view every second. A central pylon forms the bulk of the station’s mass, and three landing platforms leading to docking bays extend from the central section, equidistant from one another and jutting out into space. The dorsal side of the station features a disc- shaped secondary structure, on top of which blinking lights indicate the presence of a landing platform reserved for wealthy patrons.* *Tuq is piloting the centipede class freighter towards the station.*
*The ship is eerily silent as the ship docks with the station.* “Ok, time to get to work. Let’s find this missing crate,” *Sinya said as she disembarked making her way into the station.*
*The Promenade is filled with the bustle of revelry and commerce. Spilling out of the gambling halls are the sounds of victory and the moans of defeat, while the music of local bands issues from the cantinas. Only a handful of citizens mill about in the main areas of the Promenade, a few gazing out the massive windows at the planet Brentaal hovering below. Business people hawk their wares to the passersby, and a few Imperial stormtroopers make their way down the main avenue of the Promenade on their usual patrol at a leisurely pace.*
*TuQ’uan felt right at home behind the controls of the Matron. The controls of a starship just made sense to him and the soothing hum of the engines gave him a sense of calmness, but it felt good to get out of the ship and stretch his legs a bit. The bright lights and loud bells of the promenade tempted him to gamble but as Sinya stalked on ahead, he knew he had to focus on the job.* “So, where do we start?” *he asked the group’s leader.*
“Spread out. Listen for rumors. Someone has to know about stolen shipments.”
The Anzati Sith started to look around. He knew from long experience that intimidating and interrogating are sometimes not the best options. Sometimes, it makes sense to just let people talk and hear them well. Sometimes, people lets their secrets slip. And where's the best place for hearing people, especially the dregs of the galaxy? The alehouses! Thus Ruthven made his way to the nearest bar, took a seat, not in a corner, but at the center table so he could hear the maximum number of people.
@here
*As the Talzinites dispersed throughout the promenade, many secrets were exposed. Bill the bartender was having an affair with Timmy the shaved ice vendor. Tenaub was fired yesterday for stealing from the till. An ithorian family was having trouble keeping their offspring out of trouble...*
*Ruthven was the only one to gain any useful information. It seems one of the cartels had a deserter. Apparently, she was a conscientious objector to something that was going down in the cargo bay. That is all you learn from the ramblings of the rumor mill.*
*Sarai slipped into the shadows as well as using force concealment immediately upon arrival, and listened to every scrap of information she could as she made her way to the cargo bay*
Ruthven then went ahead to the market place, which is possibly the second best place to learn something that others want to keep hidden, if you know where to look that is. However, he found no additional information here. Besides, the market area was sprawled over a big area. There was no time to cover all of it. So he headed back to where Sinya was and relayed the information to her.
*A woman with short black hair and the greasy uniform of a mechanic comes stumbling onto the Promenade, clutching her midsection as though injured. She struggles to make her way across the floor in your direction, though clearly she is having difficulty walking.* “Please, help me,” *she calls out to you.* “There are credits in it for you, just help me!” *Mere seconds later, two security guards burst into the area from the south end of the Promenade. They raise their blasters, aiming them at the woman, and shout through their helmet speakers,* “Step away from that woman. She is under arrest.”
*Sarai was headed in to the Promenade when she saw the guards locking blasters on an obviously unarmed woman, and with the force sends two low power bursts of force lightning at them using just enough power to knock them unconscious and drop them for interrogation*
*One of the guards convulsed and collapsed in a smoking heap. The other turned his blaster towards Sarai and pressed the activation stud.*
*Using Amplification Sarai lunges forward and moves to go hand to hand combat using Mandalorian Core to disable the other guard*
*The guard totally misses his shot hitting a bystander. The blue rings of energy caused the child to fall to the floor, unconscious.* *The red haired demon was running straight at him—* “KARK!” *he yelled as he ran the other direction narrowly avoiding the deadly assault. He jumped back through the door he had emerged from a moment ago just as it slid closed.*
*Cursing the guard who ran away in rapid fire high galactic she turned around to make sure she didn’t accidentally kill the one she hit with her lightning. She planned on interrogating him **before** she killed him.*
*Cracking his knuckles, TuQ strode over towards the newly closed door, scanning his surroundings for a terminal with door controls where he can put his slicing skills to the test.*
*the door has no keypad but appears to have an rf scanner.*
Ruthven was watching from a distance the fight between one of his teammates and the two guards. Evidently they neither had a chance not were they ready for powerful Force-users. However, he noticed that the other Anzati proceeded to interrogate the remaining guard. Ruthven instead proceeded to 'help' out the woman whom the guards were chasing.
*Sarai checking the pulse of the guard she fried, and shook her head* “I need to learn some control over my static shock” *she mutters in Anzat before turning to the woman and started approaching her*
*TuQ rushed over to the now fried corpse of the guard laying on the ground and crouched next to Sarai.* “Quick, we need to check for and an access pass!” *he spoke quickly in a hushed tone as not to draw any more suspicious than the team already had.* “I want to get in that door before the other guy has time to regroup with friends.” *Furiously, his hands began searching the guard for anything useful.*
*Acting on instinct and training Sarai directed a surge of Force Lightning at both sides of the door frame trying to fry any electronics*
*the door sparked and the panel exploded from the surge of power. About the time Sarai killed the door, TuQ found an rf emmiter on the guard’s helmet.* “Thank you for your help. They almost had me that time,” *the wounded woman exclaimed as Ruthvan approached.*
Brushing her thanks aside by a casual wave of his hand, he asked her rather curtly, Do you happen to know anything about the cartels here, or anything out of place at the hanger?"
*Sarai in a gentler voice told the woman* “Any information you have would be helpful, and you will have access to full medical care in recompense for your help, go to the medical wards and give the medical team navy code 349801. They will do everything they can to help.” *Sarai waits for a few to see if that would sway her to be willing to help them.*
“Like I’m going to go to the med ward here! I would be arrested immediately. No, I’m getting off this station. You should be getting off this heap as well. The proprietors are...how do you say it...corrupt? Anyway, Thank you for your help.”
*nodding to the wounded woman, Sarai moves to the doorway she revealed and uses sense to look for the guard who got away from her*
*feeling the guard through the Force, you can tell he is not on this level. He is...down. He is somewhere below you.*
*walking towards TuQ, Sarai murmurs what she sensed about the other guard*
“So much for subtlety,” *TuQ muttered under his breath, cursing inwardly to himself. Grabbing the guard’s helmet, he hopped up and ran to the door poking his head through to get a lay of the land.*
((Bump))
<@!864003319584391179>
Ruthven was following the guard who escaped from the skirmish, and unbeknownst to him, was stalking him. This cat and mouse game took them to a level below where it all started. The guard was seemingly glad to escape from the Force-user and was running off to ward off his gang. However, he didn't know he was being stalked by another one more violent than the last. Ruthven was waiting around a corner for the guard to turn up. When he did, he looked up at the human. "Running off somewhere?" Before the man could cry out for help or flick out his gun, his mind went limp. Ruthven merely had to use a Mind Trick on him to find out all the information he needed.
*As TuQ and Sarai look through the now broken doorway, they see a long corridor with multiple doors on either side. At the far end is what looks like a stairwell.* *Ruthven was enjoying his ‘interrogation’ ||meal?|| a little too much. He didn’t notice that the hunter had become the hunted until the bright blue rings of a stun bolt overloaded his nervous system. As he crumpled to the floor, he vaguely heard voices and footfalls all around him,* “Who is this?” “KARK! It’s a Plagueian. We need to move up our timeline. I’m sure his friends will be along soon.”*rough hands grabbed him before he fully succumbed to his unconsciousness.*