Dominion [Black Sun] The Imperial Connection | BSS Dominion of Lexrul

[Razmir Tezhyn]

OBJECTIVE III
BYOO - Infiltrate the Imperial Remnant
Lexrul

Razmir clicked the last strap of the shiny-white plastoid chestplate into place. From the reflection he caught in the speeder's rearview mirror, he didn't look half bad in stormtrooper gear. That contrasting white and black complemented his pale complexion and dark hair.

The speeder had been parked a few streets away from one of the major hubs of the Imperial Remnant, hidden away behind several dumpsters in a side-alley. The timing had been chosen carefully to maximize the time before a patrol moved past this street. The time window was generous, by most standards, but it was still strict.

Raz put on the helmet, struggling with how unusual the sensation of experiencing the world through a HUD. Moving around in the stormtrooper gear felt good. It had a sense of energy and power to it that was invigorating.

It hadn't been too difficult to track down an old suit of New Imperial armour in the underworld. After the Empire's collapse, a lot of the surplus gear had flooded the black markets. Defectors wanted to flip their gear for a quick credit, former quartermasters left sitting on warehouses full of the stuff began selling the gear wholesale, and criminals had stolen anything not watched over by a security system. Dressing up like an Imperial was, in many ways, a lot simpler than it had been back in the day when the Iron Emperor still ruled the Braxant and the Tingel Arm.

"It's an infiltration job," he said to his companion, voice distorted by the helmet. She'd been provided with a suit, though with how good she was at infiltration already, he hadn't been sure if she needed the disguise.

"We get in, we gain access to the lab, we take whatever data and experimental tech we can find, and then get out again. Straightforward enough, huh?"

Rika Hiro

 

[Rika Hiro]

OBJECTIVE III
BYOO - Infiltrate the Imperial Remnant
Lexrul
Razmir Tezhyn ​

Rika put her helmet on, clicking in place as the interior system of the helmet came to life, and the claustrophobic confines of the stormtrooper helmet replaced her free vision. She'd always wondered how the rank and file of the empire had even fought and lived in such equipment; maybe she was gonna get her answer tonight.

Lexrul was one of those systems deemed secondary to her former employers, an industrial world with minor importance she had visited perhaps only a few times when she was an agent of the empire, a mere transit point on the way to conduct operations in the core. Its industrial spires dominated the oppressive horizon, with smog and smoke choking its towers and flooding its streets with a hazy visage.

The Replicant installed memories had convinced the agent she had grown up with childhood asthma, and as such, Rika, on many occasions to the planet, struggled to breathe and held onto her inhaler for dear life. But the reality was that none of that really existed, and her components had merely simulated the struggle, just as they had given them memories of home and family.

That didn't matter no more.

"Easy enough."

"I should be able to get us in, I still have the access codes, you might have to hook me up to the mainframe and I can break the internal access doors."

"In and out, easy peasy."
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[Razmir Tezhyn]

OBJECTIVE III
BYOO - Infiltrate the Imperial Remnant
Lexrul

"Easy peasy's fine by me," Raz' smile was audible through the helmet.

He checked his gear one final time. No plate or strap looked out of place.

"Let's rob some Imperials then."

The walk to the checkpoint was uneventful. The sight of two troopers returning to base was common enough. Most likely assumed it was the end of a patrol shift. Citizens mostly avoided them, and other stormtroopers moved by without much acknowledgement beyond a salute. Their luck carried on up until they reached the checkpoint gatehouse.

Entry into the Imperial Complex was heavily guarded. Ray and particle shields blocked the gap in the building-tall walls, and either side of the shield-gates had a group of stormtroopers standing guard. Turret emplacements overlooked the street leading up to the gates, as well, and Raz had to admit he was happy he hadn't planned this one as a frontal-assault smash and grab. With that kind of security they'd been cut down before they even reached the courtyard.

A stormtrooper in a gatehouse stopped them as they approached. Details about the man remained hidden behind that Imperial scowl his helmet bore.

"ID, you know the drill. Coming back from patrol?" The Stormtrooper spoke. He almost sounded bored to tears, but that professionalism he projected made it hard to tell.

Razmir deferred to Rika. He was confident their IDs would get them in, but he hadn't studied New Imperial protocols. If there was some figurative secret handshake or procedure to the exchange with the guard, there was a high chance he'd mess it up and draw suspicion. Better to let the expert handle it.

Rika Hiro

 

[Rika Hiro]

OBJECTIVE III
BYOO - Infiltrate the Imperial Remnant
Lexrul
Razmir Tezhyn ​

"Affirmative; everything is in order, sir."

Rika shot to attention and afforded the man a sharp salute, stomping her left foot as she raised her hand to salute the man in the tradition of the old NIO infantry procedures.

Something installed deep in the heart of every man and woman of the empire, the formalities and traditions beat deep into everyone from basic training through indoctrination. She didn't need to hack or steal to know that; it was bred into her as a replicant and tool of the emperor.

She tilted her head slightly, inspecting the man's armour; it bore signs of dirt and wear and tear, all a violation of the imperial dress code and standards.

"Sir, have you reported to the nearest armoury to amend the faults with your armour?"

If the man could see her roll her eyes, he might've left out of embarrassment already.

"That's a violation of Imperial code 345-B, which mandates for soldiers of the empire to maintain clean and orderly equipment and inventory; I suggest you report to your nearest depot and fix that issue."

Rika looked to Razmir for his validation and backing.
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[Razmir Tezhyn]

Razmir followed suit as Rika gave her display of Imperial loyalty, taking the cue that this sort of pomp was probably expected of all the grunts. He thought it fortunate that the helmet hid his face, because he couldn't help but grin when Rika pulled codes and regulations on the guard. Establishing yourself as an authority and intimidating the other party tended to make most people less suspicious of you. People tended to be non-confrontational in that way, something that even extended to military personell.

"I, what?" The Stormtrooper cocked his helmeted head. "That's, yeah, that's the code, but I can't just leave my post. There's a—"

"If you know it's the code, trooper," Razmir cut in. "Then why aren't you following them? Are we going to have to escalate this matter so it involves your supervisor?"

For some added effect, he subtly pushed on the man's emotions to make him more willing to obey. He took what was already there, and simply dialled it up a notch or two.

The trooper, caught between the threat of being reported to his supervisor and the need to comply with the regulations, took a moment to respond. He sputtered some half-word, then sighed and dropped a section of the energy shield.

"Of course. You're right. Go on in, I'll be calling in my replacement while I head to the armoury," the trooper said, clearly dejected.

Raz gave the soldier a nod, then looked to Rika to lead their way.

Rika Hiro