United We Stand

[ForeverNight]

Shrugging when Jojo was engrossed in his game, Thryyn decided to walk into the Security Room, when he heard the snippet of conversation.

 

"But I mean, space is a big place, and we're an unmarked ship. What're the chances of us getting into a space fight this soon?"

 

"Best not to tempt fate." He said, "she's a vindictive, temperamental bitch who will bite you when given the opportunity." He then smiled to take the bite out of his words. "However, the Hyperspace routes are severely limited. The routes to Hifta from Coruscant non-stop must be very few in number, so it would be easy for a navy to place an Interdictor -such as the old SNS Leviathan- on the route and fire up the Gravity Well Generators to pull a ship out of Hyperspace.

 

"Now, couple that with the knowledge that somebody is coming and they are coming by way of Coruscant, if you had enough Interdictor-type ships, what would you do?" He asked, checking to see if she had followed his logic.

[Rachel_Ewok]

Ardana Kren sat back on the ugly worn chair. It moaned as she sat down and she gave the chair a dirty look. She looked down at the faded rug, and played with a worn spot, that was nearly open to bare floor, with her boot. She hated Coruscant, their flat back on Nar'Shadaa had been a little more decent than this one she sighed and stared out the grimy window, it wasn't a great view, some slimy building blocked her view of that skyline that everyone thought was so amazing. She heard Shara moving about in the kitchen, she had just come back and was making them something to eat.

 

"Cashed in on that bounty today." Shara called from the kitchen. "Great, maybe we can have something decent to eat then." Ardana called back sarcastically. "Hey, it's not my fault jobs have been slow lately." Shara said, emerging from the kitchen, with two plates of something that resembled food. "Dig in. I have a great job I heard about today." Shara said, motioning to the twi'lek to eat her food.

 

Ardana rolled her eyes, "I don't think I want to eat that." She said, curling her lip and flipping a lekku over her shoulder. "Then starve." Shara said with an annoyed glare. Ardana pushed the plate back. "So what did you hear?" She asked, clearing her throat and glancing at Shara who was poking at her food with a fork.

 

"I was down at the cantina today." She began, "I overheard some people talking... And, will you believe it? A jedi was there-" "I hate jedi, they're always poking their lightsabers where they don't need to be." Ardana interrupted. "Shut up Ara." Shara said with another glare, "Do you want to hear this or not?" Ardana sighed, "Continue."

"Okay, so there was this jedi... The bar tender, told me that the jedi was gathering some other mercs and a couple other jedi I guess together. Says they need to go out and kill some Sith or some crap like that."

"Shara, I don't want to get involved with the jedi... you know that. They only bring trouble." Ardana said, beginning to stand.

"Ara, you'll wanna take that jedi up on his offer. The Republic is offering 250,000 credits each for the Four True Sith Lords... Whatever that means."

"Is it hard to kill a Sith?"

"I wouldn't imagine so... There's ways around their mind tricks and pretty lightsabers."

"Let's do it... What else did the jedi say?"

"Bartender said they were meeting in Docking Bay 4A this morning... I imagine they've left already... But this is too good a deal to pass up. I say we head over to the Docking Bay, see what we can find out, then get passage to wherever the jedi and his group is heading... And even if we dont' find 'em... What harm could it do? I'm sure we'll find some credits wheerever we go."

"Let's do it Shara. I hate Couruscant anyway."

 

With that the human and the twi'lek walked out the door with just a pack each, and didn't look back. They walked out to the Docking Bay and headed into the office to inquire about the jedi. Later when a landlord came in, he found something that resembled food sitting on the table... They had just got up and left, he was cleaning out the flat and kept looking at the food, now cold sitting on the table. "Not even the vermin in the walls would eat that." He muttered, and left the room.

 

((I must have missed it... Where are they headed? And sorry, if my time is a little off... I started reading at page 5... Seemed like a good way to drop in my two mercs.))

[patient_zero]

((We're on our way to a mining planet called Hifta))

 

"Really? You're not good with the force either. I was always the best fighter out of our group, it's one of the only things I'm good at. The reason I'm in this suit is because of how bad I am with force. It's nice to know I'm not alone with this inability."

 

Evelyn stayed mostly still, pausing between her timed breathing to speak. "Does the suit enhance your fighting ability?"

 

She found it hard to concentrate with the ship rumbling beneath her, so when the room fell to relative silence she recited the code to herself in her head.

 

---

 

"Now, couple that with the knowledge that somebody is coming and they are coming by way of Coruscant, if you had enough Interdictor-type ships, what would you do?"

 

"Hrn. I get what you mean." Zarena commented. She edged her eyebrows up. "Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll be busy interrogating miners while we whoosh past."

[Cyborg Ninja]

"It provides some help. I've always been a warrior though. I could kill when I was four. The suit helps me with the force and enhances my strength. What is really quite good about is it gives me much better reflexes. The fighting ability however is all me. I specialize in a kinds of combat, blasters, lightsabers, and melee weapons. These are just tools though, hand to hand combat is the basis of my skills. When applied with a weapon it makes a deadly combo. How about you Evelyn, how is your fighting ability?"

 

Kevak looked down at his exosuit. It was indeed a nice advantage, but if given the choice he prefer to be all human again, and not one stuck in a suit.

[ForeverNight]

"Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll be busy interrogating miners while we whoosh past."

 

Thryyn chuckled, "that would be nice, however I doubt the Sith would be too accommodating, after all, Coruscant leaks like a sieve, even when the information is classified to the highest degree."

 

"Besides," he continued. "Haven't really put much stock in luck since a lucky Sith sniper hit me during the Jedi Civil War. Spent a month on board the RNS Haven before being able to go back into active duty, hurt like you wouldn't believe, and sometimes acts up in zero-gee... But, that's ancient history."

 

Thryyn then turned and walked over to the table in the room, and he quickly claimed a seat before rotating in the chair to face the other person who'd chosen to be in the room at that time.

 

"So, what's your story Jaq?" He said. "I can't say that I've known many Mandalorians throughout the years, so you'll have to excuse my curiosity."

[DrPhil2501]

"So, what's your story Jaq?" He said. "I can't say that I've known many Mandalorians throughout the years, so you'll have to excuse my curiosity."

 

"Well what would you like to know? The story of how I abandoned my heritage and became a Mercenary, or how I got stuck into this mess? I'd be glad to humour you, Thryyn." Jaq said. "I was recuited for this mission by the Republic and the Exile, mainly for my battle efforts during the attack of the ghost ship Ravager. This was before and after I left the Mandalorians!"

[patient_zero]

"How about you Evelyn, how is your fighting ability?"

 

Evelyn thought for a moment before delivering her answer to Kevak. "My talent lies in wielding a lightsaber, but I suppose I have skills I could transfer over to vibrosword combat if need be. My discipline ensures I stay calm during a fight, so I'm not one for leaving openings in my technique."

 

She paused, listening to the hum of the Hyperdrive. "I suppose it's nice to think that the Force guides me, but my Master told me I should rely only on what I know, and for me that is how to handle a blade."

 

---

 

"Haven't really put much stock in luck since a lucky Sith sniper hit me during the Jedi Civil War. Spent a month on board the RNS Haven before being able to go back into active duty, hurt like you wouldn't believe, and sometimes acts up in zero-gee... But, that's ancient history."

 

And with that Thryyn took a seat at the centre table and turned to the Mandalorian.

 

Zarena headed north, towards the door to the armoury. Might as well check out the free gear before the rest of the soldiers get their mitts on the good stuff.

[Niftyeye]

Aeran still swivelled around in the turret, he had been studying, staring and focusing on the void of space for nearly 20 minutes when suddenly everything turned blue as the ship lurched into hyperspace.

 

He couldnt help but smirk when he heard the commotion downstairs from some of the inexperienced flyers.

 

Aeran himself had been in space travel more times than he cared to count, from his days in the Army, he was used to the lurch and 'strange' feel you get when the ship pushes through the stars.

 

He remembered briefly the battle of Telos, which other members of the crew must of surely experienced, he remembered being a gunner in one of the escorting interdictors before the ravager blew... and then it was running.. hiding.. and then suddenly getting called up to fight alongside the enemy against a newer, stronger threat.

 

He felt slightly relaxed - and even eased by being on the Republic side, they had fought off the Mandalorians, beaten off the Sith when they came back from the war before and even took them down a second time. But this new threat, they needed the brash, brutal tactics of the Sith to assist, and they might not just stave off this assault.

 

He leant back and glanced at the ladder downstairs, he couldnt see any of the crew but heard some voices, atleast they were comfy while he sat upstairs being the only one keeping alert from outside threats.

 

(Ill go and have a look at the ship layout now, sorry if its wrong)

[Nymf...]

((Sorry I couldn't reply on this one, been a few busy days ))

 

"Jojo," Thryyn said in what he hoped was a friendly tone. "I'm sorry that we got off on the wrong foot yesterday, you'll have to forgive me, but I'm just a Jarhead. Okay?"

 

Jojo smiled to himself when he heard this. He didn't reply, but started to think a bit. When Thryyn had left him, he stay a while longer, but then decided to follow him. He heard Jaq talking.

 

"Excuase me Jaq!" He said and turned to Thryyn. "My appologize, you're an honorable man and there's nothing to be sorry for, althou I might have been a bit rude..." Jojo said and strecthed out his hand.

[Cyborg Ninja]

Kevak listend to Evelyn's response.

 

Not bad for a Jedi he thought to himself, perhaps she can help me out.

 

"I couldn't agree with you more Evelyn. You must be better than me with the force, because I need to ask your help in something. In order to get past any ships we might come in contact with, I'm going to cloak the entire ship with the force. Bail will be busy piloting the ship, so I was wondering if you could help me, for I fear I can not cloak the ship and everyone in it for that long."

[Rachel_Ewok]

Ardana loved it; the hustle and bustle of this part of the city really reminded her of home. Shara must have sensed this, because Ardana caught her looking at her and smiling out of the corner of her eye.

 

"Makes you miss home doesn't it." She said quietly, "Yeah." Ardana agreed, and shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. "How much longer-" "We're here. Docking bay 4A, let's talk to the dock master... I've got some credits to get him talking..." She paused before opening up the door, "Let me do the talking Ardana... I know what I'll say."

 

The shining door slid open with a small woosh, and the pair stepped in. A human male looked up at their entrance. He looked like he was in his mid-thirties. A hard life had caught up with him it seemed, as there were a few creases in his otherwise perfect complexion. He flashed a bright smile to Shara, and said cheerfully, "How can I help you ladies today?"

 

Shara sauntered up to the man and gave him a winning smile. "My friend are reporters for our local HoloNet station..." She paused making sure that Ardana knew what the story was going to be, a small half smile from the twi'lek prompted Shara to continue.

 

"We're doing a small report on jedi activity on Coruscant... and we tipped off that there was one who took of this morning... Left from Docking bay 4A... Could you tell us where that ship was heading?" She gave a small wink, and she grinned at the man's noticeable blush. "They were heading for Hifta according to records... I'm sorry I can't be of much more assistance..." He gave an apologetic smile, "Hope your report goes well." "Thank you sir." Shara nodded curtly, and with that she turned around and left.

 

Once they were out of earshot Ardana glanced at Shara, "Hifta?! Why would a jedi go there?" "I have no idea Ara. But we need to find the cheapest and most direct root there..." She stopped to think for a second. "I have a pilot friend. He does some smuggling, and he owes me a favour. Let's see if I can find him." "Sounds good to me." Ardana shrugged. "Let's go find him." Shara nodded, "His name is Erik Teff. Last I heard he was on Coruscant. Let's see if we can find him."

 

Shara turned a corner and entered a turbolift, Ardana was right on her heels. "He's always in this cantina down a few levels..." She checked to make sure her blaster was in place, "It's pretty seedy down there, be on your toes." She nodded to Ardana, "He's probably there. Let's hope he's not drunk." She said with a smirk, and the turbolift lurched as it came to a halt.

[patient_zero]

"In order to get past any ships we might come in contact with, I'm going to cloak the entire ship with the force. Bail will be busy piloting the ship, so I was wondering if you could help me, for I fear I can not cloak the ship and everyone in it for that long."

 

"I will do what I can," Evelyn replied. "When is it you plan to cloak the ship?"

 

---

 

Zarena ran her fingers over her jacket. Still got two hold-outs, good for a few shots in a pinch. Might want to check if there's any upgrades for my other stuff. What else could I use..? Her eyes skimmed the equipment, and she circled the room, occasionally picking up a blaster or a vibroblade to test their weight against that of her current set.

 

Eventually she chose to add a few more items to her pockets. Grenades, mines, computer spikes, a stun baton. You can never have too many alternatives.

[Rachel_Ewok]

They stepped off the turbolift and Shara led them a few blocks until they reached a cantina. It looked cheesy with the many colourful flashing signs. Ardana chuckled at the "LIVE TWI'LEK DANCERS 24/7" sign. She could never understand how her people could subject themselves to that... that humiliation. Twi'leks could do so many better things with their lives... They didn't have to go be cantina rats. "Ardana, I need you with me." Shara said warningly, shaking the twi'lek from her thoughts. She flipped a lekku over her shoulder. "Let's get this over with."

 

They walked into the smoky room, music from the Bith band floated over the din of the many people talking and drinking. "Let's see.." Shara said, scanning the large crowd, her eyes rested on a man sitting in a shadowed corner. "There he is." She said, and she started to make a direct route to his table. She easily manuvered around the people, and stepped over a drunken Rodian who had fallen to the ground, seemingly unconsious. "Poor fool." She muttered, chuckling.

 

She pulled up a chair in front of the table, "Erik Teff... Funny meeting you here." She gave him a smirk, "Shara Zaprin." He said quietly back. "When was the last time I saw your pretty face?" He gave her a slight grin and narrowed his eyes. "What brings you to my presence? Can't you just leave me and my Alderaanean Ale in peace?" He asked jokingly. "Erik, enough small talk. I need you to do me a favour." "Lay it on me." He said taking a drink out of his glass. "I need you to get me to Hifta."

 

Erik slammed down his glass, "Hifta? Shara... Shara why?" He moaned, "Because I'm chasing down a bounty. I would fly there if I had a ship... But I don't so, you need to help me. You owe me Teff." She said warningly. "I know, I know." He said taking another drink. "We need to leave now." Shara said, "Take the most direct route, we need to get there... Before the jedi does." She said, almost reluctant to tell him who she was after, but he would find out eventually. "A jedi you say?" Erik said, raising his eyebrows, and finishing the last of his drink. He thought for a moment. "I'm gonna need another drink." He said sighing, getting up and beginning to head for the counter. "No, we need to go now Erik." Shara said, urgency in her voice. "Fine, fine, fine." Erik said, rubbing his face, his fingers lingering on his unshaven stubble. He sighed. "Let's go. Might as well leave now, before I lose my nerve."

 

"Thank you Erik... This means so much to us." Shara said, motioning to her and Ardana. "Yeah, yeah. Don't thank me just yet." He said, shrugging on his jacket, and leading them out of the cantina. "I'll get the Nomad ready. You ladies can sit in the cockpit with me I guess." He said sniffing groggily. "You still fly around in that old thing?" Shara asked sarcastically, referring to Erik's ship the The Silver Nomad It was an old rickety ship... It wasn't worthy for space travel. "Hey, credits are hard to come by. The Nomad will get us where we need to go... Before the jedi too." He said indignantly, "Hey Erik... You know I was only kidding." She said grinning. He just sighed and kept walking to the docking bay...

[Cyborg Ninja]

"I'm expecting we'll hit some sith forces just outside of the planet. That's when I plan to do it. Mr. Graff will hopefully contact me if he needs me to do it earlier. Now I don't really know how this will work. Will I cloak the ship, and you cloak the crew, or will we both cloak everything and how can we be sure we can both hold it long enough. Like I said before Evelyn, I'm not the greatest with the force"

[ForeverNight]

"Excuse me Jaq!" He said and turned to Thryyn. "My apologize, you're an honorable man and there's nothing to be sorry for, although I might have been a bit rude..." Jojo said and stretched out his hand.

 

"Jojo, there is nothing to apologize for." Thryyn said, shaking the man's head. "Heck, I'm just glad to know that I didn't piss you off enough so I should've started to watch my back." He laughed slightly.

 

"This was before and after I left the Mandalorians!"

 

"Well, if you're willing, I would like to hear how you were recruited. I was just told that there was an opportunity to save the Republic and do it on Government expense, and have some fun. So if you're willing, it would be an interesting tale to hear."

 

Zarena headed north, towards the door to the armoury.

 

"If you need anything with projectile ammo!" Thryyn called after the Zeltron, "there's nothing in there."

[Rachel_Ewok]

The group piled on to the beaten up ship in Docking Bay 56B. "We'll get to Hifta in a day... If we go as fast as the ship can take us, and if we don't get stopped by any Republic ships looking for a cargo ship... They've probably got the Nomad listed as a smuggler's ship." Erik sat down into his seat, and Ardana and Shara took up seats behind him. "We need to get out of the atmosphere, then we'll make the jump to hyperspace." Erik said, pushing buttons and firing up the Nomad's engines. "We need to get there before the jedi Erik. I need to meet him at the landing pad... I don't want to lose him." Shara said urgently. "I know honey. I'm doing what I can." Erik said placatingly.

 

Soon they were ready to make the jump to hyperspace. Shara loved the lull of hyperspace, it always calmed her... and soon she was fast asleep. Ardana glanced at her partner, "She's tired... She doesn't get much rest... She's been taking all the jobs lately... and she's just been providing for the both of us. It makes me feel kinda worthless." Ardana said guiltily to Erik. "Hey, you need to take things as they come to you. Be grateful that Shara cares enough about you to provide for you. It's hard to earn Shara's love... You just take advantage of that." Erik said, his eyes glued to the controls.

[DrPhil2501]

"Excuase me Jaq!" He said and turned to Thryyn. "My appologize, you're an honorable man and there's nothing to be sorry for, althou I might have been a bit rude..."

 

"Heh, no problem... I guess." Jaq grinned. "I don't recall a certain rudeness about you, apart from assuming I was some food service droid." He laughed.

 

"So... Jojo, yes? How did you end up with the rest of us Geezers?"

[patient_zero]

"Now I don't really know how this will work. Will I cloak the ship, and you cloak the crew, or will we both cloak everything and how can we be sure we can both hold it long enough. Like I said before Evelyn, I'm not the greatest with the force"

 

Evelyn mused for a moment, using her rudemtary grasp of the Force to give Kevak a plan. Oh master... I still have a lot to learn.

 

"If we both cloak the exterior in the Force, that should hide all within the ship as well. I'm certain if we combine our power and petition any of the other Force users to aid us, we should be able to get the cloak to hold."

 

---

 

"If you need anything with projectile ammo, there's nothing in there!" It was Thryyn, calling from the centre room.

 

She turned her head and yelled back. "They've got plenty of grenades, so that's fine by me!"

[Rachel_Ewok]

Shara was stirred awake by the alarm signaling the drop out of hyperspace. "I didn't sleep that long did I?" She asked yawning and looking about, "Yeah you did. We're nearly to Hifta... A few more hours." Erik glanced out the front window. "You really should get more sleep Shara."

 

She stifled another yawn, and looking around "Where's Ardana?" "I let her go and explore around the ship. Not much to look at but..." He shrugged, "Whatever, right?" "Yeah, I guess." Shara said, looking back towards the door out of the cockpit. "How are you gonna find the jedi once we're there anyway? You dont' know the name of the ship right? And you don't even know where they're gonna land."

 

Shara smiled, it was obvious she had thought this over, "Well, Hifta is pretty small. There are only a certain number of landing pads... Or whatever, so I say we just take the largest one... Check the dock records to see if there are any ships coming in from Coruscant... head to that landing pad and.." She snapped her fingers, "We've got 'em." "What if it's the wrong ship?" "Please Erik, how many ships that aren't carrying some sort of miners or mining cargo do you think land on Hifta?" She raised her eyebrows, and he shrugged, agreeing.

 

"It's not like I want to kill him or anything. I just want to see if he needs our help in tracking down... Sith or whaver. Plus this long term tracking is good for Ardana, and neither of us liked Coruscant."

 

((When are ya'll planning on landing on Hifta?))

[Nymf...]

((Well I hope it's ok with lordrevan I can start the procedure of leaving hyperspace...))

 

"Heh, no problem... I guess." Jaq grinned. "I don't recall a certain rudeness about you, apart from assuming I was some food service droid." He laughed.

 

"So... Jojo, yes? How did you end up with the rest of us Geezers?"

 

"Uhmm...several incidents with bad luck?" Jojo smiled. "Anyway a few years ago I went to a Republic Soldier Academy, graduated as one of the top students, but the army life wasn't much for me. Why I joined the Academy is another story for another time. After that I went to the Outer Rims, and did quite many jobs, same which ended as a disaster, so you can imagine I got my fair share of enemies and bounty hunters in my neck in the galaxy. Anyway I did some job together with Bail. And it was he who tricked me to tag along. I don't really know what more to say, without making you to bored."

---

Bail check the coordinates. They were getting closer to Hifta.

 

"Ok people, we are soon approaching Hifta. William and Kevak, would you please be kind and come to the cockpit for a bit of talk?"

[Cyborg Ninja]

"If we both cloak the exterior in the Force, that should hide all within the ship as well. I'm certain if we combine our power and petition any of the other Force users to aid us, we should be able to get the cloak to hold."

 

"Sounds like a plan to me Evelyn. I do hope that..."

 

 

"Ok people, we are soon approaching Hifta. William and Kevak, would you please be kind and come to the cockpit for a bit of talk?"

 

"It looks like Bail needs to have a word with me, It's probably about getting there feel free to follow me if you want I'll tell Bail I'm going to need your help if that's what he's talking about."

 

Kevak got up and walked to the cockpit passing Jaq, Jojo, and Thryyn along the way. He saw Bail at the pilot's seat.

 

"You rang Mr. Bail"

[LordRevan123]

Hearing Bail call to him, William left for the cock pit to meet with Bail. "What do you need?" he asked.

[ForeverNight]

She turned her head and yelled back. "They've got plenty of grenades, so that's fine by me!"

 

Thryyn perked up at the mention of Grenades. "You can never have too many grenades." He said to Jaq and Jojo, "so, if you'll excuse me."

 

With that said, Thryyn stood up and worked his way to the Armory, frustrated at himself for missing the grenades in his haste to find any projectile ammo.

 

As he walked through the door, he noticed Zarena going though some of the weapons cabinets. Raising a hand in greeting, he walked over to the area where he thought the grenades were. After rummaging about for a few minutes and having no luck he eventually called, "where are those grenades you mentioned?"

[patient_zero]

"Where are those grenades you mentioned?"

 

Zarena motioned Thryyn over to nearer where she was standing and walked over to a pile of what appeared to be briefcases. She popped open the one on top, and inside was a plastic mould with several rows of indents, some of which held frag grenades.

 

"Probably didn't want them bouncing around in transit or getting thrown against a wall by a jolt and blasting a hole in the hull."

 

She left the suitcase open and stepped towards the door, before remembing something. She turned her head to Thryyn and said, "I think there might be a few other kinds in the other cases, you never know what'll come in handy."

[ForeverNight]

Zarena motioned Thryyn over to nearer where she was standing and walked over to a pile of what appeared to be briefcases. She popped open the one on top, and inside was a plastic mould with several rows of indents, some of which held frag grenades.

 

"Thanks." Thryyn said, looking inside the case.

 

"I think there might be a few other kinds in the other cases, you never know what'll come in handy."

 

"You can say that again." Thryyn said. "After this is over, I have some interesting stories to tell about cooking with grenades."

 

He turned back to the cases and continued his search for more grenades.