Cleaving Off The Head

[Zedd Harkor]

The rise of the Sovereignty in the far reaches of Wild Space needed to be calculated, and the people, groups, and governments that stood in their way, in turn, needed to be dealt with. Diplomacy was an invaluable tool; to subjugate a population through mutually agreeable terms was a prudently-minded peace, instead of having to deal with the fussiness of national pride. However, times occasionally came when diplomacy - when simply shaking the confidant's hand and walking the other way - is simply not a feasible option. Zedd Harkor - the head of the Sovereign Navy - might as well had been the number one tool in the tool-shed when it came to dealing with issues militantly.

However, this particular issue was an issue that needed to be dealt with all due discretion; an issue that bounty hunters and assassins were precisely for.

On the home planet of the Ripokasta species, Striga, there existed that of an ultra-religious extremist political party on Striga, exponentially gaining more and more power within the planet's political infrastructure. The extremist group - known as The Elder's Chosen - were zealously devoted to their patron god: The Elder One.

Now, the head of the problem - the exponentially increasing political might of the Elder's Chosen party - needed to be severed, before it began an eventual problem in dealing with future diplomatic relations on the home planet of the Ripokasta.

It was time to call some friends.

Koda Fett,

We've another assignment for you.

If you so choose to accept, you will be rewarded handsomely. On the planet of Striga, there exists an ultra-religious and extremist political group, called The Elder's Chosen. For the greater good and the purpose of maintainng the status quo of the Sovereignty, you are to terminate the head of the political party, Sacred Confidant Zhozhir, in the city of Blackhaben. Lord Admiral Harkor will oversee this operation, personally.

Regards,

The Office of Naval Intelligence

[member="Koda Fett"]

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

The Unknown Regions​

[member="Zedd Harkor"]​

​

The Bounty Hunter soared throughout the fringes of the Unknown Regions, the bright lights of the nebulae in their contortion of colours reflected upon the Spear II, the identical to the Concord Spear with the upgrades of a fresher model. Sometimes one had to escape the hustle and bustle of the Criminal Underworld, and in turn view something natural, yet untouchable. Some sort of sick truth in the untouchable beauty of the galaxy.

An alert sounded, cutting out the peaceful silence of his stare. Fett's head aggressively pivoting to face the sound, coming across a message displayed before him. His neutral expression skimmed over it originally, singling out a few unique words that would then be read over a second time. The brown eyes of Koda Fett turned to face the helmet that rest upon the ship's dash.

"Another job."

He had been hired by the Sovereignty several times now, for when they required results there was one you could always rely on; the best in the galaxy, that is.

-----

In time the Bounty Hunter arrived on Striga. Confident that the information he had acquired through his research, whether peaceful or not, would give him everything he so desired for the task at hand. The Spear II's​ door opened up, and a fully armoured Mandalorian Bounty Hunter departed with carbine in hand. Discreet or not, the job was to be done. It wasn't like someone as well known as Koda Fett could move inconspicuously anyways.

 

[Zedd Harkor]

From outside of the vessel, there was an operations room filled with multiple military-grade terminals with individuals in the Sovereign Navy's ONI fatigues; it looked like a well-designed military operation, judging from the equipment and personnel that were present. Among the personnel and technology, a tall figure clad in an assortment of dark slimline tactical gear with only his head and face showing, became apparent just down from the entrance ramp of the Slave II. In one of his hands, he held a heavy blaster pistol, adjusting the slide mechanism, of an unknown variant and production-series. Judging from the face shown, it was none other than the Sovereignty's Lord Admiral Zedd Harkor, standing before the armored Bounty Hunter. The Lord Admiral, Zedd Harkor, might've been a familiar figure to the already-famous bounty hunter. He was an idolized soldier-figure by military-men around the galaxy, regardless of the opposing governments they worked for, that resulted from his military prowess. He spoke-

"Koda Fett." acknowledged he of the bounty hunter's presence, in a gruff tone of voice; "We have work to do."

He motioned for the bounty hunter to follow with two fingers, speaking to him as the both of them assumably walked.

"I'm not an armchair general, if that's what you're wondering.", said he, as the two walked; "By ONI's calculations, there's a high probability that we won't be able to run this operation through quietly - at least not the whole way through. In that event, we'll need to hit them hard and fast before local authorities get involved."

[member="Koda Fett"]

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

​Striga, Wild Space​

Interacting With: [member="Zedd Harkor"]​

​

The Mandalorian's head swivelled about, searching for the man in charge before he in time laid his eyes upon him. Lord Admiral, Zedd Harkor - a famous soldier known throughout the galaxy, respected and feared by many. Similar to Fett in some regards. Although there wasn't time to marvel at him or any such thing, not like the Bounty Hunter would, for the Lord Admiral spoke and beckoned for him to follow, and so of course he did.

As the two walked side-by-side throughout the operation's headquarters only one thought came into his mind, the question of why he was needed, and rather than waiting to find out he decided to cut straight to it like an impatient child.

"What do you need me for?"

 

[Zedd Harkor]

Harkor's head turn't away from the helmet of Koda Fett for a moment. Staring off, he collected his thoughts, before turning back to face the T-Shaped Visor of the helmet of Koda Fett. All the while - whilst the conversation ensued - ONI personnel worked in the background on their various terminals and operational check-ups.

"You're the face.", said Harkor, "You're a bounty hunter, and everybody knows what Koda Fett does - kill or capture. Not what military intelligence does."

"This isn't blowing back on your reputation neither.", mentioned Harkor, "The Ripokasta are isolationists, and lack influence."

"Does that make sense? If so, lets get this underway."

[member="Koda Fett"]

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

Strega, Wild Space​

Interacting With: [member="Zedd Harkor"]​

​

Undivided attention was set upon Harkor, whilst his crew members worked tirelessly in the background, Fett's visor remained only on the man in charge. There wasn't much to be said, his question was answered and would no doubt be filled out within the meantime. So, of course he gave a firm nod, accompanied by a simple, "Yes."

In truth he cared not for what the Ripokasta thought of him, and it hardly affected his reputation. As long as he got the job done, it would be an improvement upon his already excelling renown. Nor did he care for what the eventual goal was, for now, he was just a bounty hunter.

 

[Zedd Harkor]

"Good.", responded the Lord Admiral. Harkor looked around for a moment, away from the Bounty Hunter. Overseeing the rest of the personnel for a moment, he decided that the teams had done enough lingering around, as Harkor turn't back to Koda; "We're moving. We're taking your craft to the area of operations; don't dock too close."

Harkor motioned to the Slave II vessel.

As Harkor brushed past Fett, and made his way to the spacecraft, he motioned for Fett to follow, and if he were to oblige, the Lord Admiral would've continued to speak; "The A.O. is an essential skyscraper, and although Zhozir's normally at his office at the very top, he's hosting a public rally on the first floor and out on the street.", said Harkor. The admiral was notably fiscally-minded about the operation, skimming over the details - yet still retaining an all-business demeanor of concentration, coolness, and competence. "He'll be there, and he'll have his paramilitary guards loitering all around the surrounding buildings and the rally itself. Regardless of whether or not we take this quietly or storm the podium, they'll be on us quick, and we don't want to be there once the planetary authorities have a physical hand in the matter. We're hitting this hard and fast.", continued he, as Harkor reached the entrance ramp of the Concord Dawn.

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

Striga, Wild Space​

Interacting With: [member="Zedd Harkor"]​

​

With a raised brow of suspicion Fett's gaze followed Harkor, as did his steps. The man was pushing his boundaries, acting as if he was above Fett in some regard, leading him all around the place. It was definitely the normal thing to do, after all he was in charge of this operation - but something never sat quite right with the Bounty Hunter. For now, however, he would shrug it off. He was being paid well by Sovereignty, as usual. Starting a fight with the Lord Admiral was a surefire way to become unemployed, albeit such a brief time.

"What's your preferred method?" Koda asked as he came to a stop alongside Harkor at the entrance of the Spear II. At the end of day, you did as the client asked.

 

[Zedd Harkor]

"Bide your time.", responded Harkor, promptly, "Get into position for the shot, and take out any of his guards that prevent you from getting there. Once he takes the podium, pull the trigger. Once that happens, they'll be on top of you; they've irrefutable moral and solid coordination, and they're not going to let you just walk away with the blood of the head of their party on your hands."

He noticed that the bounty hunter was clearly eager to just simply get to work - as was Harkor, himself - simply making sure this operation was done pinpointly so. Communication was such a vital necessity, it was apparent that Harkor, and likely even Fett understood that.

"Now, let's do this.", spoke Harkor, walking further into the bounty hunter's spacecraft. He sat down in the passenger bay of the Concord Dawn, waiting for the bounty hunter to assume the piloting controls of the craft.

[member="Koda Fett"]

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

Striga, Wild Space​

Interacting With: [member="Zedd Harkor"]​

​

The Bounty Hunter had made his way into his ship, passing the Lord Admiral and offering nothing but a brief glance as the man stopped within the cargo bay. The engines hummed to life as Fett powered them on, the thrusters engaging and causing the infamous vessel to rise - shifting from it's 'back' to an 'upright' position in which it would continue to soar across the planet in the direction of their intended target. The Spear II kept on it's path, ultimately reaching a landing point that would prove suitable for the time-being.

When disembarking, if nothing else was done by Harkor or his present men (if there were any), the Mandalorian could be seen making his way out of the ship via the lowered ramp with a high-powered snipe rifle. His demeanour as cold and distant as ever, ready for the kill.

 

[Zedd Harkor]

Harkor waited patiently, calmly, in the small-kept passenger section of the Firespray vessel known as the Concord Spear, as their flight ensued across the skies of Striga. Not known for his idle, warming small chatter neither, Harkor kept to himself; he kept his attention to his various devices on the suit he wore, ensuring that all of his devices were working optimally, not willing to risk a faulty device in the midst of a precarious operation such as this. After all, he was willing to place himself in harm's way, for the sake of personally overseeing this operation.

In one of his hands, he held a heavy blaster pistol; adjacent from that, on his wrist, was a wrist-mounted PDA that glowed low for stealth's sake. His suit was black, slimline, that briskly lined and alluded to his muscular physique, with manifold tactical holsters and carrier elements for prolonged operations.

From down the hallway which housed the exit ramp, did eventually did open. With the eruption of hydraulic gas and smoke, the ramp that lead to the outside began to descend; indicating that it was time to move out. He stood up from the bench, gracefully lumbering forward. As he walked forward, Harkor pulled up his mask that previously laid dormant on his shoulders, as he threw it over his face to disguise his identity. The Lord Admiral now stood at the entrance ramp next to the bounty hunter, methodically moving down the ramp, as he began to make his way to approximate location of the rally, to hopefully find a secure vantage point over the rally.

[member="Koda Fett"]

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

Striga, Wild Space​

Interacting With: [member="Zedd Harkor"]​

It was with complete silence that he moved, at least as far as he could control. The crunching of leaves, the clanking of his armour and the hum of a high powered sniper rifle were out of his control. Above him was a large rock formation, caked in foliage and through the canopy it's peak could barely be seen due to the thickness of it. A bird or two on a low-hanging branch fled from the armoured Bounty Hunter as he continued upon his trek. As arduous as it was, it would no doubt leave him in the prime position to take the shot.

It became steeper and steeper the further he ascended, the foliage disappearing and replaced by nothing but rocks ready to crumble beneath Fett's feet. It was quiet, however, it was perfect. The only sound he heard were the rocks beneath his boot and the wind itself. Everything else meant nothing in this moment. These bird people were merely a means to an end, an end full of credits.