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Werah settled into his armour, and checked that the cargo crates were properly secured. Then, he strode outside, taking one last look at the blue sunset over the mud planes, before walking to the hangar. Hundreds of ships were spread out before them, but Werah wanted none of them. He pressed a hidden switch in the control room, and the floor slid back, revealing the huge cruiser inside. He walked out across the gantry, and watched as the many crew members poured into the ship, preparing it for launch. Werah got into the lift down to the bridge, and soon arrived. He sat down in the captain's chair, signalling to the pilots. The ship began to roll slowly out of the hanger, dwarfing the rest of the complex. Outside, the ship was raised into launch position, and the booster rockets were attached. "10...9...8", began the countdown, and Werah braced himself against the chair. "1...LAUNCH!" The rockets fired, and Werah was pushed back into his chair, though his armour protected him mostly from the crushing acceleration. The other crew members were not so lucky, and he could see them grimacing in pain. Soon though, they had left the atmosphere, and prepared to jump to light speed. The stars blurred into lines, and the cruiser shot off into the Galaxy, making its way to the arid world of 244core, where Werah would meet with the rest of the team...
"Hey come to 224Core" said Werah in his message "No, its too far away...." "There is loot" Acaleus was sitting in his chair on Enryu Corps. His engineers were trying to create new weapons, while he and his mercenaries were eliminating nearby mafias. It was going to well that he controlled 5% of the planet so far. Venus came to his office with a datapad "224Core right?" "Yep, we should get going" Acaleus prepared everything and in half an hour he was on hyperspace on his AT-120.
He landed on an hangar on Relaali and saw the Cruiser of Werah on the mirror of the fighter. He went out with Venus following him "So Werah, whats your plan?"
The troops stood around what remained of the battle camp, gathering supplies and packing up. It was time to move again, to gather the Alpha Company up and find their way to the next job. The work here on Tatowine had gone well, yet another political figure in exile had been exterminated. They were commando mercinaries--this was what they did.
"Sir," an officer named Plutarch reported into Ardgal's command center.
"Yes?" Ardgal answered, looking up from his things.
"Weapons loaded, sir."
Ardgal gave a nod. "Good work, young man." he studied at the young man for a moment, he could tell there was something on his mind. Alpha Company was more than a set of super soldiers. They were a family, forged through hundreds of years of war. "Something on your mind, son?"
Plutarch hesitated, "Just--not to question your athority, sir--do you think this is a wise idea? Another baby sitting mission?"
Ardgal chuckled, "Fair enough, son. Every day off the battlefeild is another day your family is safer. The vod to your left and right won't be shot at. Wars last a while, then they dry up. Between wars there's lots of good paying 'babysitting' to do. As long as it puts food on the table, it's alright with me."
Plutarch nodded satisfied. "I see, sir."
Ardgal picked up his suit case, "Finish packing up, son."
"Sir."
A few minutes later the Alpha company was soaring out to their next assignment; 244Core
Werah walked down the ramp of his ship, flanked by his private troops. Soon though, the soldiers dispersed, leaving Werah alone with his two lieutenants, Jake and Adam. He had considered taking more troops, but since this was a scientific mission rather than a military one, he decided it wasn't necessary. Approaching Acaleus, he smiled at the sight of the AT-120. "Hello there. I plan to lead an expedition to a abandoned mining site, that was abandoned during the years of darkness.", he said, addressing Acaleus' question. "There, I hope to find the journal of the lead scientist there, Ashtein Solo". Werah paused to let this sink in before continuing. "I believe he created the super weapon that bankrupted him, and destroyed his reputation. It was deemed a failure at the time, but with modern technology, I believe we could recreate his work." Werah then walked over to a small bar near the edge of the spaceport, and sat down inside. Acaleus was here, and he had heard that a member of the Raxis clan would be joining their expedition. Until everyone arrived though, all he could do was wait...[member="Ardgal Raxis"][member="Acaleus Thorn"]
The groaning frigates exited hyperspace with a shudder. Along the way, Ardgal read the mission statement. It seemed to be a standard search and find, the type of job that required more skill than a simple shoot 'em up. Ardgal loved skillful jobs over blood baths, it stretched his intellect and gave him a chance to see who among alpha company was able to stand ready for a promotion. But in the most imediate sense it was a chance for Clan Raxis to gather more allies.
After the mission log, he read what there was on 244Core, which was sadly lacking. Still a general who was worth his salt always did his research.
"Sir, we have entered Orbit," Plutarch informed Ardgal over the comm.
"Prepare entrance, tell the troops to pack light weaponry and be ready for a search and rescue type mission."
"Yes sir."
The ship descended with great protest. Ardgal added it to his list of things to replace for the company as soon as he could. When they touched down, Ardgal climbed down the loading ramp clad in his general uniform. Matrix-clad warriors fanned out around the area, preparing for whatever Ardgal ordered next. The Mandolorian extended his hand to Werra, "Good day, Sir. Alpha Company is ready to go on your order."
Werah shook the mandalorians hand, and nodded to the soldiers behind him. "Sadly, the transport on this world is limited. Regular craft can't function in the acidic atmosphere, so we will have to stay inside specially built walkers for the journey. Space is tight, so we can only take a handful of people. Choose your best men, and follow me", he said, while sealing his suit properly. "Conditions here are harsh, and unexplored. We must be constantly on watch." Werah then watched as the ramps of the acid walker came down. It was a cold bulky vehicle, but it did its job well, and that was enough for Werah. He climbed aboard, and sat down, his lieutenants sitting beside him. He motioned for Acaleus and Ardgal to join him...
[member="Ardgal Raxis"][member="Acaleus Thorn"]
Another day, another job; it had been some time since the Black Empire had invited itself into Jansal's life and, ever so eager to escape its influence, he found himself for determined than ever to seek out distractions. Bounties, liquor, mercenary work, liquor, steady employment, liquor; it was safe to say, by this point, he was an emotional and physical wreck until professionalism called and, thus, professionalism was sought after all the more. As his glistening, Pulsar starfighter swooned into orbit, met by sizzling, acidic cloudlines and smokey horizons, it was then, and only then, that he had bothered to review the mission; it didn't matter anymore, he figured, as long as it got him away from the Sith. The client's name was Werah Unon, a Kel Dor, and beyond that, well, Jansal couldn't be bothered to investigate; this wasn't good, he was getting sloppy. However, he wasn't really in the mood to care about either. All he knew was that this would be some kind of expedition. He'd land, meet up with the rest of the team, wait it out; the only thing he figured capable of killing them on this shiny, backwater world would be the air. And Kel Dors hardly needed to fear that.
The city of Relaali was lodged within a single, massive creator; it was there, the party intended to meet. Slender wings expanded outwards as Jansal deposited his craft closer to the mineral-rich earth, in hopes of avoiding the larger clouds that hung in the planet's atmosphere. As he swept into the city, he was nearly awestruck by the deafening absence of traffic he was so accustomed to in the Core worlds; indeed, this was a planet made simply for mining. Those who lived here stayed in the shafts, the only ones free to take flight were pilots trucking tons of ore elsewhere for further refinery or shipment; what a depressing life, he mused. Still, he'd rather be hauling about steel than be situated where he was now; he needed the credits, however - there was no longer any time left to spare for complaining. His craft slowly jettisoned to the given spaceport, slowly docking itself into the hangar, pinions extended out to either side of the canopy; gentle landing gear erected with a blast of hot steam.
As he landed, the craft bounced slightly, as per usage of the suspension, to prevent damage due to its weight; the canopy lifted, exposing himself to the hot, oily air. He was already wearing his armor, but his helmet rested out beside him - laden over the armrest, staring blankly into the nothingness. He rose it overhead and fastened it, connecting the magnetic seal and rebreather to secure his own safe, supply of oxygen, lest he die of lung cancer from breathing in this air; then, he departed, lowering himself out of the cockpit and tapping a finger on his wrist, allowing it to shut automatically. The others were already meeting it seemed - yes, there was the Kel Dor, next to him stood a pair of strangers . . . and an entire company of soldiers. "I thought we were on an expedition," said Jansal, leering beneath the visor. He waded his way into the group, one hand fashionably placed on the butt of his rifle, sheathed at his waist; though he expressed amusement, his feelings were quite the opposite. He didn't sign on for a fight.
"Not a battlefield," he continued. "You planning on stealing a fossil from the Galactic Republic or something? That pays extra."
Ardgal chuckled looking at the new fellow, "I prefer to stay ready for all possible eventualities, good sir."
The general pressed the com on his ear active,. "Plutarch, remain in charge until I return. I want Rancor Squad with me for this one. The rest of the company needs to stay put and wait for orders."
A quartet of men wearing Matrix armor formed up around the general, following him into the Walker. Ardgal saw his employer wasn't kidding, space was tight in these things. Part of the Mandolorian wondered what anyone could see desirable in a planet like this, but he had been in a lot of filthy places that were about on par with this--Geonosis, Tatowine, Felucia, Roon, Theta, and worse. It seemed like the galaxy just seemed to acquire in hellholes like this, almost like dust in the corners of the galaxy.
Acaleus stretched his arms to the side and everyone heard a *crack* off Acaleus neck "I just need Venus. Name is Acaleus Thorn by the way" said the assassin taking out his hood. A mandalorian, a Raxis with an army and his apprentice with a small cruiser were on the team; apart from the semi-army they brought with themself. Acaleus didnt knew what kind of item they would find but ancient technology was like a gold mine for his company creation. Venus landed the AT-120 to the cruiser. He heard the commentary of the mandalorian "I do think that we shouldnt bring a big group of people to those planets. Traps could be activated for the mistake of one" spoke to everyone
With everyone inside, the ramp of the walker rose up, and sealed them inside the compartment. Everything was quite for a few seconds, until they left the protective bubble around Renaali, and then the winds started howling outside. Werah hoped that the walls of the vehicle would hold against the acidic wind, as if they were breached, they would die in seconds. Luckily, the craft was made well, and continued its solemn journey with ease...
244Core, Abandoned Mining Camp
Werah closed the visor on his armour, and watched as the ramp came down. The view outside was not particularly appealing - a grey, featureless landscape, with a murky green sky. The base itself was simple, consisting of a couple of habitation modules, and one large central base station. Near the buildings, the mine itself was simply a deep dark pit in the ground...
Jansal remained seated, waiting for the others to depart; perhaps it was more simple this way, giving him ample time to observe and understand. You could discern a personality by the most minute things: the way they moved, or talked, interacted with their environment. This wasn't integral, neigh, it wasn't remotely related to his mission in the slightest; he only wished to better grasp who he dealt with. This was interrupted, however, by the sudden understanding of the situation which now compromised his integrity: he had used his name here - what if things went sour later on, what if this left a trail? He truly had let his guard down after all, it seemed; he stood up and departed nonetheless, feet landing on the dense, deathly earth. "Looking for anything in particular?" he asked aloud, arms pulled taught over his chest; he was definitely uncomfortable, uncertain - in his rush to escape his obligations, he had forgotten himself, and now he was at risk. He didn't like that at all.
