Corporate Warfare (TSC)

[Darth Kentarch]

Cutting through space, the modified star courier's ionized engine hummed with menace as it descended towards it's destination. Etti IV a wealthy planet in corporate space slowly came into view, a neutral planet, it was distanced towards the end of the Tingel Arm. There was no other place from the galaxy that was farther from laws of the Republic. The Corporate Sector was a place of benign neglect. Business, the rich, conglomrates and corporations did what they pleased and the people suffered at their hands. Yet the sector was an important place for raw materials, capital production, and technological development. Run by a board of directors known as the Direx Board, the Direx Board controlled and oversaw the sectors dealings.

Darth Kentarch stood from the cockpit chair and slowly moved to the central chamber of the star courier. His mission, and the mission of his fellow Sith was simple, the silent removal of Direx Board. Since the fall of the Empire, the Direx Board had gone neutral, however Kentarch and The Sith Council had maneuvered carefully. Now if the executive members of this board could be eliminated, a government friendly to the The Sith Council could be installed as a puppet and the resources would be at the disposal of the Council. Yet this would be no easy task. The Corporate Sector Authority had its own paramilitary force known as the Espos. A group of security police that were more known as professional brutes then a modernized military organization. Their equipment and fleet was largely outdated, however without any backup they were a force to be recognized.

A small protocol droid moved to Kentarch and gave the Sith Lord a status update. "We will arrive in Mondder in a few hours sir, once we have clearance for landing." Kentarch instructed the droid to summon @[member="Assadar Ilrast"], @[member="Dalansa"], @[member="Bjornveld Skjoldsen"], and any others from their private quarters. The Kentarch dismissed the droid with a wave of his hand. It was time brief his fellow Sith, the apprentices he had chosen to come along for this mission. There was much work to be done.

 

[Dalansa]

Dalansa had been sitting in her quarters, listening to the engines hum, and remembering her short time as a stowaway. However, she was almost relieved when @[member="Darth Kentarch"] called them to the bridge. Walking slowly, her black armor making not a sound as she stepped along the floor, the Offshoot began to do something she never had before: she thought about her hair. It would be too long for combat. She should cut it soon, before she did it by accident with her saber. Stepping onto the bridge, she knelt before the Sith Lord.

 

[Fasalin]

Assadar had been sitting in his quarters, pondering, as he was often prone to do. On this particular occasion, he'd been provided with an especially complex topic to ponder: their mission. Standard sith stuff--infiltrate planet, kill government, replace with puppet government. Standard stuff, except that this task had been bestowed upon Assadar, who was fresh out of the academy, and a grand total of three other sith. Four of them. Against a planet. Should be a piece of cake, really.

The upside, however, was that espionage, manipulation and generally skulking around in the shadows happened to be a specialty of Assadar's--so he wasn't too pessimistic about their prospects by the time he was summoned to the bridge.

He walked onto the deck and inclined his head to @[member="Darth Kentarch"]. Turning to the monitor, he gazed upon the planet called Eti IV.

"So it begins." he said, more to himself than anyone else. He turned back to @[member="Darth Kentarch"].

"My lord, I have been studying some relevant plans and information during the journey. I've outlined what should be the best route for us to take to get to the Board's HQ. It won't be easy, but it will be quiet." he extended his hand, which held a datapand outlining the route which he had researched.

 

[Darth Kentarch]

As @[member="Dalansa"] entered the main deck and knelt before the Sith Lord, Kentarch waved his hand and motioned her to take a seat. @[member="Assadar Ilrast"] merely nodded, but on assignments like this one formalities were not necessary. "When we arrive in Mondder, you will spare me the formalities and no longer address me master. A sir will do, or you can call me Kentarch. Do not even say darth. I don't want the locals to know there are force sensitives on the planet. If any should lay eyes on you using a lightsaber or your force powers they must be silenced, permanently ." Kentarch stated to the apprentices.

Kentarch's gaze shifted to Assadar. Apparently this apprentice had done his homework and researched a plan ahead of the operation. "Very well then." Kentarch however would hold his praise until later, if the route presumably played out in getting the Sith to their destination, with no complications, then he would be congratulated. "Let us hope you have taken into account video surveillance and closed circuit cameras. We can't have the Security Police on us, or even the slightest hint we are here." Kentarch said. "I want us in and out, no complications, no evidence, nothing. No clues can be left behind."

 

[Fasalin]

"That's the idea." he said, handing Kentarch the datapad. "I can't tell you exactly how much resistance we will encounter, but this is the best we can do here." He paused for a moment. "I've also done a bit of research into the planet's security. It seems that those corporate pigs are employing some heavy battle droids as a reaction force. Standard security forces are militia armed with blaster pistols--no military grade weaponry there, so we should be alright. However, our biggest problem's the Espos. They're mercenaries, I think--offworlders. They'll most likely be guarding the government building itself. Their equipment is hardly top-of-the line but they're brutes."
OOC: Just make up anything you like for the route--a subway, abandoned tunnel network, sewers, industrial sector--take your pick.

@[member="Darth Kentarch"]
@[member="Dalansa"]

 

[Darth Kentarch]

Kentarch took the datapad from @[member="Assadar Ilrast"]. Taping some of the buttons he looked at the information the Sith apprentice had prepared. "A service tunnel beneath the rail network. We will have to go on foot, but there will be less prying eyes. Very good." Kentarch said. Ilrast mentioned battle droids, and the Sith Lord tried not to look annoyed. It was not the fault of the Sith apprentice however. "The corporations of the CSA have long manufactured weapons, droids, and yes battle droids for the various Sith Imperial factions over the centuries. Now that we no longer control the droids, it looks like they will be turned on us. Oh the Irony."

Kentarch sat back and reflected on the Security Police. "Mercenaries. They work for credits and I may be able to slide them some to look the other way if we get stopped by them. But your right acolyte the government building will be crawling with them, the most loyal of the bunch too. As much as you don't want to hear this. While we can't alert them to our presence, slaying them in droves won't do either. Remember we are installing a puppet government, and in the end the Espos will be our puppets too."

@Darth Kentarch
@[member="Dalansa"]

 

[Fasalin]

"If I can get to one of the security control stations I may be able to mess them up a little bit and help you on your way; open doors, lower force fields, de-activate holocams and redirect the mercenaries to the wrong places." said Assadar. "If the situation were different I'd suggest buying the thugs out--but we're going up against a large corporate authority here, and there's no way we can make a bigger offer in terms of wealth. What we can show them though is power. They may be a bunch of powerful brutes but they're not going to be honorable and they're not going to die for their cause. These kinds of people have most likely never dealt with force users before. If we give them a taste of the might of the sith, we may well be able to turn them to our side or at the very least get them to stand down. Fear is our best weapon against these people."

@[member="Darth Kentarch"]
@[member="Dalansa"]

 

[Dalansa]

Dalansa rose to her feet, and moved to her assigned chair. Looking over what she could see, and listening, she began to see where the weaknesses were. "Sir, If we miss even one camera, it's over. There can't be one. Even if we destroy it before it sees us, the malfunction will send an alert. And if possible, leave sabers behind. Even the cuts made by them are telltale." Her voice was quiet, reserved. She still wasn't used to this. She expected to be yelled at for speaking. But it seemed to pressing. Even the smallest mistake could ruin the whole mission. She bowed her head, almost tenceing for a blow.
@[member="Assadar Ilrast"] @[member="Darth Kentarch"]

 

[Fasalin]

Her body language was not lost on Assadar, and he wondered why she was acting like this. Was it Kentarch himself whom she feared, or was it a natural reaction, imbued by previous abuse?

"I tend to agree that we must be secretive, but leaving sabers behind would be a mistake. Of course we should use other methods if we can, but we cannot risk our safety like this. If I can possibly steal an Espos uniform and get to one of their control stations, I should be able to take care of the cameras."

@[member="Dalansa"]
@[member="Darth Kentarch"]

 

[Dalansa]

"It would still be help. I can do little with my saber that I can't with my sword. The difference is that the saber can cut steel, and the sword can be mistaken for a vibroblade. I'll carry both, but use the zhaboka more." It made sense, in the girl's mind. She didn't know how to deflect blasters, forced to dodge or hope her armor can take the hit. Her zhaboka was more familiar to her, but the saber was the symbol of who they were, and a more feared weapon. She wielded only when needed. Otherwise, swords would do fine. She glanced at @[member="Darth Kentarch"],trying to watch for his reaction to her words.
@[member="Assadar Ilrast"]

 

[Fasalin]

"Yes, of course." said Assadar. He turned to @[member="Darth Kentarch"]. "Now, I suggest we get moving."

@[member="Dalansa"]

 

[Darth Kentarch]

After a few moments as the acolytes spoke, the protocol droid returned to the main cabin. Turbulence increased, and Darth Kentarch shifted his head slightly, no doubt the ship was descending into the planet Etti IV atmosphere. "Master Kentarch we will arrive at the space port in Mondder soon. I will be preparing ship for landing, and guide the ship down myself." The droid said.

The Sith Lord looked back to @[member="Dalansa"]. "I know a force trick that deactivates cameras, fear not, none will spot us. And if you pay attention you might learn how to use it too. As for weapons, take what you can conceal, I still recommend taking your lightsaber. Even if you feel you can't handle yourself with it." Just as finished speaking he felt the ship touch the ground. The droid annouced over the intercom that the ramp had been lowered.

Kentarch looked back at @[member="Assadar Ilrast"]. "Do you know the way to the nearest security control station? Cause we should head there first." He asked while moving down the ramp and out into the space port.

 

[Fasalin]

Assadar nodded. He had bought with him his old blaster pistol and his lightsaber--both were concealed within the folds of his black robe. With his hood pulled up, he did look slightly menacing, though it would not be apparent that he was a sith.

"We'll want to take a transport to the Tarlin sector. That's the nearest one to the entrance to the network." he said. They crossed the spaceport and arrived at a landing pad which was perched several hundred feet above the city below, protruding from a rock face.

"I've got the credits." he said, pulling out a chip from the folds of his robe. He paid, and they boarded the transport. As they flew off across the city, Assadar spoke to the other two.

"Once I take a waypoint, it's only a matter of time before they discover me. Then they'll try to flush me out. With that in mind, I'll hang around the area while you two head into the network. I'll take the place when you start to come up against resistance, but it would be a bad idea for me to do so before that."

@[member="Darth Kentarch"]
@[member="Dalansa"]

 

[Dalansa]

Nodding, Dalansa produced her saber from her belt, and tucked it into a satchel, with the zhaboka's scabbard vertically on her back, covered by her hair, and the fact that it blended in with her armor. Her weapons were hidden, at least to the careful observer. The problem would be metal detectors, if there were any. Head still bowed, her eyes following the heels of @[member="Darth Kentarch"]. She was still uncertain of if she was free of her past abuse, but she was allowed to speak. That was a plus.
Still tailing the Sith Lord, she bumped into a man, knocking her down, and minority inconviencing the investor. "You should keep a better eye on your servants." He said to Kentarch, before moving on, his nose in the air. It was all she could do to not hurt the man. She was fine, but the implication, to her, was obvious. A lesser being. She had been seen as one her whole life. And she hated it.
@[member="Assadar Ilrast"]

 

[Darth Kentarch]

The Sith Lord glanced at @[member="Dalansa"] as she bumped into the man. Kentarch said nothing to whoever this man was, then glanced back down at Dalansa. "While Sith use are emotions, we must always learn to be in control of our actions. You did well not to take your revenge, knowing that doing so would have compromised the mission. In time when I and the other masters deem it so, you'll be a knight. And you will be able to make any who insult you answer for it. But now is not the time." The Sith Lord continued following @[member="Assadar Ilrast"]. "Remember you must be as ruthless to your powers as you are to lesser beings around you."

Darth Kentarch watched as the Acolyte handed the clerk some credits, then he followed him onto the transport. Listening to Ilrast, Kentarch only commented after he had finished. "You will not be discovered while you are there. Its on you not to for the sake of the mission, or until the board is dead. Kill them quietly, steal a uniform and a ID badge and impersonate an officer or NCO. If you want to create a diversion, its your call. I expect a Sith to be able to do as much."

The shuttle slowly came down to the walkway and ground to a halt, the droid pilot announcing the stop being the Tarlin sector. Kentarch waited for the pedestrians to go first and then moved for the exit himself. "Hopefully you two remembered to pack you communicators." he stated. "I want updates every five minute Ilrast."

 

[Fasalin]

"I'll do what I can." said the young sith. "Right." he said as they exited the shuttle. "I"ll head over to the security station now. I recommend that the two of you head out and into the tunnel now--you can enter through the Elath rail station. You shouldn't encounter resistance until the maintinence tunnel joins up with the main part of the network. Contact me when you get there, or before if necessary, and I'll take the security station. Like I said, I'll do my best to remain undetected but when someone's messing with all your security systems it's not hard to notice. They start fighting back and I'll lose more and more control until I'm completely locked out. Considering Z-1's abilities, we might be able to give you 20 minutes, but not much more than that."

@[member="Darth Kentarch"]
@[member="Dalansa"]

 

[Dalansa]

Nodding to @[member="Darth Kentarch"], Dalansa boarded behind them and listened. Twenty minutes? That seemed minimal. This is going to go wrong, she thought to herself, bit shook the idea away. They were Sith, whatever that ment. And that, apparently was full justification. And ability. But anyways, she was here. And they were going. She would act like a shadow to the Sith Lord, simply following. Words from her were few and far between. Even scarcer were smiles. Her giant was that of a soul weary of the world, and yet still working as hard as they can. The warrior in her was screaming that this would fail, that this was foolish. But the girl that had been sold all those years ago simply went on. If the Master said it would work, it would work. And that voice was in control.
@[member="Assadar Ilrast"]

 

[Darth Kentarch]

Darth Kentarch nodded to @[member="Assadar Ilrast"]. "We can work with twenty minutes. Once your locked out, see if you can rejoin us. If not, I own a personal estate South East of the city in the country side. The place has Sith architecture and rare artifacts from around the Outer-Rim inside, you can't miss it. Lay low there." Darth Kentarch stated, referring to private home where he pretend to be a wealthy investor with taste of interests in items declared forbidden and illegal in the Republic. Quicky the Sith Lord strode towards Elath rail station.

"We must make haste." The Sith Lord said to @[member="Dalansa"]. "I can sense your doubt. Even when the odds are low, do not let that cloud your judgement. The Jedi believe they serve the force, and that force has its own will. As a Sith your will it what influences the force." Kentarch stated, "Only those with the strength to succeed do so. Focus your hate and anger, on those who treat you like less than normal person. And be prepared to unleash it on your enemies."

​The Sith Lord moved quickly through the city until he came to the maintenance tunnel. Glancing around he found an unmonitored door. Kicking it open the Sith Lord stepped inside, Lightsaber in hand. He reached out with the force searching for hidden threats. Reaching up to his ear, Kentarch activated his come. "Ilrast, we are all clear. How is your end?"

 

[Fasalin]

The aforementioned sith was currently skulking about in a particularly dark and nasty-looking alleyway, approaching a group of particularly dark and nasty looking thugs.

"I'm following a lead." he said into his communicator. "I should have access to the station soon."

"Hey!" said the biggest thug, a very brutish alien who Assadar knew would naturally be the leader. "Whaddya want?"

"Eternal youth, inexhaustible wealth, and a hundred Twi'lek dancers to keep in my mansion on Naboo--but right now I think I'll settle for the device carried by Captain Varthun of the Espos."

The alien leered. "Oh yeah? And whaddya want that for?"

"Let's just say it contains some information about my doings that I'd rather not become readily available to the local law-enforcement." he said. "In fact, that device is worth quite a lot to me. Say, five credits?"

The gang members looked at each other. They were interested now. "Alright." said the leader. "Hows about you give us the money, then we'll take care of this...Espos."

Assadar pulled out a small device from under his cloak. "Here." he said. "Take this. It contains the appropriate credit chip. However, it will only open with my activation code. The captain is in the Snarling Nexu cantina, a few blocks away--I'm sure you already know where it is. He's the one in the uniform, you can't miss him. Silence him, take the datachip, and bring it back to me."

It was hard to see in the dark, but Assadar could see that the thug's mind was slowly working. Something told Assadar that it would eventually come to the conclusion that it would be far easier to put a blaster to the stupid cloaked man's head and have those codes inputted right now. The thugs looked at each other again, and the leader made a sudden movement. Both Assadar and he drew their blasters at the same time.

"You know," said Assadar casually, "captain Varthun will most likely be drunk. He might even be unarmed--he's on a well-deserved break. He really won't be that hard to take down. Like I said, you get to take the safe, so that I have no reason to run off on you. Sounds a whole lot better than us both getting shot to me."

There was a very long silence, and then the thug slowly lowered his weapon. Assadar did the same.

"I'm going to leave here in ten minutes." said Assadar. "Get back here before then if you want the code."

The leader nodded and gestured to his men. They all ran off, and Assadar couldn't help but smile. Idiots.

__________________________

"Hey, sweetheart!" said Varthun, calling over to the nearest waiter. "Another drink! Come on, hurry up!" the men around him sneered. The waiter was a very pretty human girl--he'd probably have some fun with her later.

She came over quickly, and he was about to say something that probably would have sounded very crude to her when about six very big and very ugly men barged into the room and began to stride very purposefully towards him.

"You captain Varthun?" asked the leader, who was the biggest and ugliest of the lot.

Varthun grinned and turned round to the other men at the table. "What, I'm famous now?" he asked with a drunken smile, and they all snickered. There was, however, a little voice in the back of Varthun's head, mostly drowned out by the much slower and dumber but far louder drunken one, that knew that these guys were trouble.

As one, the aliens made a sudden movement. Varthun went to jump up, his hand now on his blaster, but all he had time to do was see a blinding flash of red light. The man who had shot him--the leader of the thugs--was called Tarro, and in addition to being very big, very brutish and very dumb he also happened to be a very good quick-drawer.
__________________________

In the dim light, Assadar saw the thugs round the corner. The Tarro approached him swiftly.

"Alright, it's done." he said, holding out a a small datachip, which Assadar took. "Now input the code." he said, pulling out the small safe.

Assadar nodded, and held out the hand. Slowly and deliberately, the thug handed it to him.

"Well?" said Tarro suspiciously. "Waddaya waiting for?"

"Turn around." replied Assadar evenly. Slowly, the thug did so, and the others did the same. They were greeted with the sight of another, slightly larger but very similar group of gangsters, and all of them looked fairly angry.

"Well, well." said one of them. "Tarro. So nice to see you."

"Yavon." said Tarro, the leader of the first gang. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I was just having a nice conversation with your friend, here." said Yavon, pointing to Assadar. "Yer see, he had a few interesting things to tell me."

"Like what?" asked Tarro, sounding very suspicious now.

"Like the fact that you just tried to do a little deal with him." said Yavon. "A deal to get rid of me...of us." he added, looking around at his men.

"What? No!" said Tarro, spinning round to face Assadar. "You slimy little liar--" He was forced to turn round again, though, as the other gang drew their blasters.

"So." said Yavon. "You say you're my friend to my face, and then you try to stab me in the back. It's a shame, really, I had high hopes for you guys..."

Tarro turned back to Assadar again, complete fury written all over his features and his blaster in hand. "You'll pay for this!!" he roared. He was unable to follow up on that promise, though, as he was promptly shot in the back. Tarro's gang roared in outrage and returned fire, and both groups dashed around to find cover.

"No." said Assadar, looking down at Tarro's lifeless body as the fight broke out around him. "I really don't think I will." He then turned around and slipped away.

______________________

A few minutes later, Assadar stepped through the doors of the Snarling Bantha. Varthun's body was still there, surrounded by a lot of yelling people. Assadar walked over to the corner of the cantina where his droid, Z-1, was waiting.

"Oh, how I love street gangs." he said wryly. "They're just so easy." With that, he pulled out his communicator.

"I have what I need and I'm in position." he said. "I"ll be able to take the security station as soon as you give the word."

@[member="Darth Kentarch"]
@[member="Dalansa"]

 

[Darth Kentarch]

The Sith Lord moved quickly through the maintenance tunnel. With the force he could put a stop to any surveillance system that CSA had put into place here. Yet unsurprisingly security was as tight as it could be. With the one Acolyte behind him, Darth Kentarch made good time through the tunnel thanks to the fact the CSA had skimped on security, likely to save money. Soon @[member="Assadar Ilrast"] replied back to Kentarch. "Were almost at the headquarters. Give us a few minutes."

Finally he came to the end of the tunnel. Reaching out with the force, he could sense several individuals beyond the next door. The tunnel itself led right to the Direx Board's headquarters. Kentarch brought his lightsaber up in his right hand. The kicked door open. Four Espos turned and looked at the Sith Lord as he kicked open the door. A red blade came to life with snap-hiss. The Sith swung down into one's of the Espos stomach and cut the man clean in half. Swearing the remaining three went for their blasters. With sizzling flesh another man's head was lopped off. By now the remaining two had raised their blasters. With flick of his wrist, the force came to life and knocked them over with a simple push.

A quick execution finished off the other two. "Ilrast I'm in. If you want to deactivate surveillance now would be a great time." Kentarch may be able to use the force ionize a few cameras, but this facility likely had a far more complex systems in place. "Any time now."