Faction Five Minutes to Midnight (The Family)

[Niki Priddy]

DENON
DISTRICT 9​

Objective: Find Zerø
Weapon: 'Revy', "The Klaive" - PDW
Equipment: PCA/EA, Priddy Plates, x2 Hutt Cartel Kidnap Jabber Rings-One on either hand, Force Warning Necklace Pendant, Paralyzing Lipstick, ENVC-370 Bodyglove, Tinfoil Hat Band, Earsculpt Comlink, Magno-grip Formal shoes
Augmentation: PGEM-SAP "Amber Eyes"
Ship: The Tourist
Droids: x6 Nuisance Engine Mark I Droids capable of producing Nuisance Droid Mark I and SD-3 Firebee Security Droid, two separate crates of Jitterbugs

​

Her personal ship was lonely. Cold. Dull gray made up the walls and ceilings of the space faring craft. Broken up only by the airlock bulkheads and geometric interior. Even the cabins were little more than utilitarian with how little she had actually flown in the thing. Not yet filled with useless knick knacks from far flung places to distract her from the relatively dull surroundings she found herself in.

Spartan and purpose built from her own hands.

Entirely unforgiving when she woke screaming at memories that played out through her dreams turned nightmares.

Cold sweat covered her. Labored breathing as though she had been able to run for her life in the throws of her reliving of the past. The scaly hands of that now dead chit-head still feeling like they were dragging and scraping along her skin. The hissing words ringing in her ears. Her whole body shook, the blanket irritating her skin as she tried to bundle up into it.

As though it might fend off the invisible things that chased her behind the closed lids of her eyes.

The soft crackle of a transmission eventually cut through the static of her mind. A sharp inhale as the blip of a waiting message pushed her to stand. The cool air of the ship giving her gooseflesh as she crossed from the bed to the desk in her master cabin. Sliding the earsculpt into place, she was greeted by a familiar voice.

<<Hey. Finally. How'd you sleep?>> Matthew piped into her ear. Her mouth opened. Frozen in the truthful response she wanted to give him. Even a lie was going to be seen through given how many times he had come charging into her cabin to find her in that state.

Screaming and winded, unable to see through the haze of that twisted dream world until she'd rode the current till the end. He'd sat with her, cradled and rocked her. Listened silently offering nothing more than company while she cried. Gasped for air and cried until she felt there was nothing else to give.

Humor was almost lost to her. The dry biting tone something that was becoming more and more common as her nerves wore on. As the rage and loathing slowly steeped into her bones and being.

<<I'd have slept better in a Confederacy prison cell. What did you find?>> She snapped across the line. Even across the comm line she could hear the soft chuckle.

Only lightly reassuring as she began to dress herself for the evening.

<<Zerø's definitely home. Sending everything over. I'm stuck on this rooftop till you get here so. If you could. Make it snappy princess.>>

She was already in a foul mood. While the information was welcome, the impromptu nickname struck the wrong cord as her fingers paused over the buttons of her blouse.

<<Call me princess again and I'll cut your tongue out and eat it in my stew.>>

The laughter across the line slowly shifted to an uncomfortable clearing of his throat.

<<I forget you're Atoan sometimes and that's an actual threat more than teasing. Sorry. Won't happen again Sour.>> The quick response back had her finishing the buttons before sliding into her black slacks. The information was pulled up on a holo-screen. The ensemble donned as she reviewed what he'd gathered throughout the day.

Patterns. Patrols. Faces and vehicles to watch for. All Zerø's gang in some measure. Pathways in and out. Most of those visible didn't wear anything more than a chest plate. Weapons seemed to vary from person to person. Almost preferential rather than uniform.

Sloppy.

The disdain in her grimace at the sight didn't have to be hidden as she donned her own chest plate. Protecting the shield harness beneath and giving her the outward appearance of a business woman rather than someone about to deal out the wanton chaos she began earlier.

OOC Edited here FINAL TIME I SWEAR

By now the 16 meter long containers had been emptied. She instructed the rental drivers to drop the shipping containers off in the middle of the street side by side. The length running the street while the width was just enough to let a body pass between them on either side. Or in between if one wasn't claustrophobic. Relief supplies for a frostbitten district. Medical and building supplies to supplant what was missing from the doctors tent. Building supplies for those that had less than suitable dwellings. Ranging from a spray foam to simpler repair materials. Warm clothes and other vitals to keep the people inside of their homes. The rear of those containers however held the engines of her chaos.

Lying in wait for her return. Churning out the little droids it was programmed to produce enmasse.

The rear wall and floor of the cargo containers would slowly help those taking supplies out of the front portion. Pushing the remaining goods closer to the front entrance and giving her Nuisance Engines room to build more spider-like droids. Likely the crates were more noisy than they had been when she had delivered them. The faint clicking and clacking of tiny legs scampering for personal room. Filling the hollow vessel with haunted sounds as night began to descend.

The soft hum of mechanical wings eliciting more than a few stares from those that shuffled along the streets in their final run home.

Finishing her preparations, she let Matthew know she was leaving. The large and industrial style land speeder with a covered cargo bed waiting for her outside the Tourist. The two spare Nuisance Engine Droids in the Tourist loaded themselves inside the cargo bay of the speeder as she used a repulsor sled to load up two extra crates of smaller and more focused droids.

Confirming when she would arrive, as well as confirming the details in a personal message to Ivory. Concern lanced his words, worried about collateral as she assured him it wouldn't be so much of a problem.

The speeder ride was a quick one as she perceived it. Recalling the route Matthew drove there with alarming clarity. The augmentations were doing their job it seemed given her cognitive abilities having flourished so well. Now it was just getting used to the constant buzz she heard.

The only other detail on her mind was the strangers that had hung around well after the relief crowd had dispersed for the evening. Unknown people lingering in points of interest like street corners and alleyways. Action alleys that might have been an avenue of escape between the cramped living spaces. Spaces that had sprung up between the small local stores for this and that. Food or other vitals that had closed and opened for a while with something else. Eyes watchful enough that even Matthew had taken extra care getting to the apartment construction site that was the newest project in the area.

Even being a former Agents marine, he'd been overly cautious about his position with the extra unknowns in the designated operating area. The last thing either Matthew or Niki wanted were interlopers to her plan. Hopefully they did nothing more than watch. In the best case, they helped. In the worst.

She'd hoped sincerely that she could keep her promise to the good doctor she had warned.

The front of the containers were indeed empty. The double doors of both firmly shut. Even opening them revealed nothing more than a solid wall blocking access inside. The back portion of the containers seemed solid at a glance. Those with much keener eyes than Zerø's gang could see the soft recess of access panels though. If any cared to look at them.

Ivory had already remedied the issue of the snow problem in the District on her first visit. Corporate goons having messed with the environment controls and tried to push the people out or freeze them where they were. Something that Niki had not known until the two had spoken a bit later about Niki's plan in the area. Niki had been assured that she would have help from Ivory, and been given a signal to activate when she arrived at her containers to draw together the assistance Ivory had promised her.

The efforts Ivory had put into ridding the district of Corporate influence had its benefits. The slow warming of the entire district turned the once snow covered jungle of duracrete and neon lights into a slush filled mess. Streets slick and running with water where it had melted down completely. Pockets of icy mush still decorated the spots where industrialization or homes didn't take space. Namely corners of buildings and where the trash was placed. The alleys partly clogged with scooped piles of the half frozen slush piles to clear walkways.

Foot prints could still be made out where it hadn't melted through completely.

While the containers remained, the relief tent had been taken down. Or moved from what Matthew could tell. He'd taken Niki back to the spaceport and missed the cleanup of the whole operation of the charitable doctor after Niki's warning to him.

Largely the civilians had cleared out, returning home with what they could carry in the trips back and forth.

Zerø's gang had retreated home once the slush had begun to form. The threat of damp clothing, finding a slick patch, and the urge to catch a fix beckoning them back.

The containers were several blocks away from the large inset building that housed the majority of the Zerø gang. An old warehouse conglomeration that spanned nearly a whole section of city block on all sides. A former company building that leased the spaces out for storage. The threat of physical violence paired with bribes had made it easier to part with the property to the gang. One which Zerø found to be a perfect hideout in District 9. The warehouse structure had predated a number of the houses, a slow and eventual shift from the glory days of high living and lavish livelihood to the squalor that the corporate interests on Denon kept the population to.

The apartments and small businesses surrounding the gang's headquarters wouldn't receive the brunt of what was to come. But the night was not going to be a quiet one when everything kicked off.

The whole of the district was largely dark in their fabricated night, the patrols of Zerø's gang becoming less and less frequent or well equipped as it neared the midnight hour. Most of those walking the foot paths were either strung out on spice and walking off their high, or simply favored the night time hours. Bickering between a few of them would mark them out in a relatively silent district.

Eerily silent.

The kind of quiet that had once been explained to Matthew as an instinctual knowing that all living things had. The weight of danger that pressed down on those souls that didn't have the numbness to violence or willingness to dispense harm unto others. A weight that warned them to keep hidden. To keep quiet. To ignore what wasn't coming their way.

Matthew's perch in the unfinished apartment building granted him a good vantage over the area they'd be working in. It wasn't near the height of the cloud breakers that Corsec had on the planet, but even 8 stories up with an open framework was still high enough in his spacefaring life. Nearly reaching the ceiling of the District, another building had been demolished to make more cheap living space in the growing population of the destitute. The unfinished structure was little more than a cheap complex to house more poor souls for the corporate work grind. Hurriedly put together before construction ground to a halt with the sudden snow storm.

He peered over the edge, his deep purple clothing blending into the shadowed backdrop behind him. The electrobinoculars zoomed in where a gang patrol had passed through to scan for any changes in the landscape since he had spoken with Niki. The spot beside the Sniper rifle they rested almost worn slick with how many times he had picked them up and put them down.

He knew Niki had reached out to the woman that had saved her. And had confided in Ivory that she wished for the whole of Zerø's gang to burn for what they had done. He'd picked Niki up when she'd stabilized enough to be transferred. Had sat with her through the entire process of growing the new tissue and grafting it. Had helped her brush her hair and even helped with skin care while she was incapable of moving from the nerve pain she was going through.

He'd wished she had let it go. Wished that Niki had moved on and not let the idea of revenge sink in. And the assurance that Ivory had called in assets to help Niki with this attack on Zerø's headquarters had been nerve wracking itself. What was Ivory bringing to the table? Who for that matter? What he'd been able to scrounge up on Moonveil had been nothing more than a front company if he had to make an educated guess. It was too little information with too many variables for him.

But he wasn't calling the shots anymore when it came to Niki.

His electrobinoculars settled on those strangers that had lingered, or had moved in without his notice. It was possible they were the assets that Ivory had promised. But from up here, he couldn't confirm that detail. And he'd been told to remain hidden until Niki said otherwise. Something that bothered him tremendously as he watched the headlights of a familiar land speeder appear on the entryway to the district.

The back and forth between Ivory and Niki had detailed meeting her people near the containers that still remained in the middle of the road. Blocking off access through this street. A few grumbling voices had protested when Niki had dropped them off. But it would be more difficult for local authorities to interfere with the direct route blocked off.

The detour around her blockade approached an hour in total.

The large cargo landspeeder Niki was driving came to rest behind the two containers. Further blocking off access into the street. She waved a hand to the dark shape of the construction site, knowing Matthew was watching as she pulled herself out of the speeder and walked to the back. Similar to a large moving truck, the whole thing drove like a floating brick.

At the back, she kicked her shoes against the frame before pressing the button to unfurl the access ramp. The two extra Nuisance Engine Droids slowly lumbering out of the back of the speeder and down the ramp under their own power. Niki herself disappeared into the back of the covered bed and opening the two crates.

Spider sized droids chirped happily to see their creator as she patted one affectionately. Taking out the controller, she radioed Matthew to confirm she was alright and prepared. Then used the code Ivory had shared with her to signal those unknown assets that she had been promised. She wasn't going to complain about getting help. Especially if that was who had been scoping out the area while she had been sleeping in the spaceport.

She waited patiently at the back of the cargo speeder, the large droids settling beside the thing as the sound of machinery inside each whizzed, popped, and hissed before a small Droid appeared from the exit hatch alongside what one might have called its head. The controller in her pocket, she pondered getting back into the speeder to fight off the cold as she waited for someone to approach her.

A face to face with Ivory would have been preferred. But desperate times she supposed.

Ivory Stroud | Kruhlaish | Jade Solus Skirae | Ket Van-Derveld

​

 

[Kruhlaish]

Gear: In bio
Allies: Ket Van-Derveld Ivory Stroud Niki Priddy Jade Solus Skirae

When he got word that an asset was in need of our help eradicating a gang entirely he grabbed what he needed accordingly for it ..especially if its a big time gang thats been causing trouble, doesn't matter to him he will help where he can. He arrived at the scene the cold not really a bother too him as he walked on high alert, keeping to the shadows mostly to avoid being seen and heard incase any of the gang was around wouldn't want them to notice a new arrival while trying to find the new asset after all. He kept his spy bugs out and about so that they can be his eyes and ears looking for signs of either his target or enemy gang members ...or perhaps even Corsec if they choose to show up

 

[Marcella Fiora]

M A R C E L L AㅤF I O R A

'Do It Do It (Remix)'​

There was more to this, more reasons behind their purpose of sitting and loitering within the cold alleyways of District 9 than to assist a friend of The Donna's. On the surface, however, they were there at the behest of the boss, attending the evenings festivities as ordered, although it was clear that a few of them were in attendance as a result of their respect and appreciation for The Donna.

It was cold. Too cold. She had turned up well-dressed, sporting a business suit that allowed flexibility yet style, remaining in uniform with her 'Chosen' goons who she had brought along for this auspicious evening. Each of them bringing their Cantonica Keyboards and M-45 Heavy Blaster Pistols, concealed as well as possible, using bags and compartments within their suits to not draw attention to themselves; Marcy' herself simply carrying an M-45 sidearm, all she would need.

As instructed, Marcy', her 'Chosen and a number of Family members loitered around the area individually, each away from prying eyes and acting unassumingly. Spread out through a number of close-by alleyways, late night shops and wherever one would find themselves to be inconspicuous.

A number of gang 'guards' appeared to be meandering around the area, seemingly oblivious to the world and ill equipped, whoever had set the raid up had excellent timing. All the group had to do was to wait for the signal before they could move. This was their contacts raid, not theirs~ regardless of their personal stake in the upcoming incursion.

<BZZZT>

That was the signal, she communicated to her team to remain in position for a moment while she made contact with the contact, although they prepared themselves to move-in. After a few moments she nonchalantly strolled towards the rear of the cargo speeder, curious as to who their contact was.

As she spotted the figure at the rear of the speeder, she turned in to initiate conversation, "Lovely night for it," she grinned.

OOC: Any Family members looking for an easy 'in' for the thread, feel free to latch onto Marcy's team and simply loiter around and wait for the order to move in! ^-^ (or you can do your own thing, of course)

Niki Priddy , Ivory Stroud , Kruhlaish , Jade Solus Skirae , Ket Van-Derveld & Anyone Else!

 

[Dominik Borra]

​

Dominik had prepared for cold, but this was ridiculous.

He wore a plain white business-style shirt over some basic body armor plating. It was enough to stop most civilian-grade weapons, which he suspected the Zero gang had more of, but would do little against heavier stuff. Over the shirt went a long, heavy, black wool coat with its collar flipped up to cover his neck and jawline. A beanie topped his head, a gray scarf around his neck, and he had warm insulating pants on along with steel-toed boots. But man, was this a cold winter for this place. But Dominik supposed this is what happened when your planet-sized AC unit broke and ran on overdrive. His metallic arm didn't get the warm blood that his other arm got, and he felt his stump up to his shoulder start to freeze over. If he had to stand out in the cold much longer, he'd go back in the bacta tank for another ten years just to recover.

Hidden inside the torso of his coat were all the components of his DC-17m Interchangeable Weapon System. Right now the coat was done up, restricting access, but the main blaster was on his left side. Maybe it was overkill but Dominik hated gangs, and you never knew what some could pull out if they were desperate. This was to be an extermination, and they would surely get desperate. Just for safe measure, as if the interchangeable grenade launcher with him wasn't enough, he had a small knife in his right pocket and a hold-out blaster in his left sleeve. Dominik was good at using anything and everything as a weapon, but bringing a melee weapon of your own was never a bad call.

He tailed one of the Zero Gang patrols, staying well enough back to not be noticed but close enough to do something.

Then he heard a beep through the communicator in his ear. That was the signal. He almost made a move when Marcella told him and the others to hold position for a moment longer. He hoped it wasn't too much longer. A nearby alleyway was coming up that would be perfect to dispose of these guards in, and he had tailed them around the complex for long enough to know their trails. They would be heading right through it.

There was a certain amount of clarity that Dominik had. He was on a job, given tasks, an objective. It had been so long since he had had that. It was how he was raised and trained for years upon years, and it was like putting on an old glove that still fit perfectly. Stardust bringing him into The Family was something he had a few reservations about, but it beat slumming it in Coruscant. So far these people seemed decent. Other than the fact that he was bottom rung, he was ok with the operation. But this was the first mission, the proving grounds. Maybe it was the old competitiveness from The Program kicking back in to get ahead of the others, or maybe it was simply to be recognized, but he wanted to do well.

He could have bombed or gassed this whole place himself if they let him, but they needed to trust him first. Plus, it seemed they liked to do activities together. As a Family.

 

[Jade Solus Skirae]

Gear: M-45 Heavy blaster rest is in bio


Its been what feels like forever since she worked with the Family on anything so killing a gang and helping out a asset sounds like a good thing to play with so she tagged along with Marcella Fiora and her happy band of folk. When she hopped off she immediately started on the prowl all her animalistic instincts on high alert for anything as she even made sure her gauntlets where charged to the fullest...not that she needed the electrical part.

She only cared about the piercing power of the gauntlets thats all she cared about and while she had her pistol she had her Katana at the ready for use should trouble arise but for now she chose the blend in option rather then straight draw attention and murder option..never know when you might attract too much attention


Ivory Stroud Dominik Borra Niki Priddy Kruhlaish

 

[Ket Van-Derveld]

~Out of sight, out of mind, the nightmare awakens...~

[Ket's Soundscape For The Evening]


So, this was the infamous District 9 of Denon he'd heard about. A cold, inhospitable dump of cracked concrete, of ruined pavements and buildings in varying states of disrepair. It reminded him of the mid-levels on Coruscant, truth be told, just more frigid. Not that it bothered him much, if at all. The Old Wolf was in unusual garb, at least for him, this night. A black, button up velour dress shirt with brocade embroidery clung tightly to his torso, tucked into form-fitting, worn leathers. Boots of similar black leather were fastened to his feet, reaching up to the bottom of his knees. Five silver buckles kept the straps snug against his calves. Lastly, a very old yet very familiar coat hung from his lithe frame, falling to the soles of his boots; faded black leather that still remained supple to the touch after all this time. Eyes of sapphire hue looked out from the shadows, taking in the scene unfolding before him. "Just as she said it would be..." he thought to himself.


It had only been about 6 or so rotations since he'd received the mysterious 'invitation' from the woman he knew only as 'The Donna'. He'd been out on Corellia, paying a visit to a very old and trusted acquaintance when he'd received it. It was the how that led him to accept The Donna's gracious offer. Ket had been having his personal ship, The Deceased Star, refit & repaired as to make her worthy for frequent space travel once more. He'd grown tired of simply meditating on the Force on Figaro Favoura VII, seeking answers to questions that truly, only concerned himself and those of his ilk to a degree. Somehow, even though he'd kept a close eye on his ship, monitoring it's security at all times, the night he planned to leave, it showed up. An old, weathered datapad, no real discerning marks, with a short, but simple message contained within.

Ket found the contents of the message almost humorous to a degree. It seemed that even though he'd vanished from the public eye for over five or so years, his reputation still followed him like a loyal hound keeping underfoot of it's master. He'd supposed this would happen, but even for one as traveled such as he, it came as a bit of a surprise. That was indeed a welcome gift to the former Sith Lord. To be able to bring a smile to the face of one who has seen so much, and taken even more, that was a blessing and a curse wrapped all in one. And smile he did, the dim light inside the living quarters of his ship glinting off those ever-present, elongated canine teeth of his. The last time he'd even cracked a grin proper was a sojourn he'd taken to Islimore. Heeding the the invitation's instructions, Ket had indeed made his way to Coruscant, and found this mysterious Donna, one Ivory Stroud. But that, my dear friends, that is a story for another night.

The fact of the matter is, he'd accepted her offer, and in return he was asked to take part in this little debacle, as a show of good faith. And who was he to refuse? So here he found himself, lurking in the shadows not far from Marcella's location, keeping a sharp lookout. He'd been given a small comm-unit, one that could easily fit in his ear, but the Lupine's already keen hearing made it obsolete before he'd even seen it. Such were his gifts, but so too was his curse. The Family had heard of his exploits, he was told. The way in which he took care of business, no matter what that particular business may be. What he wondered was were they truly ready to have a such a viscous monster within their ranks? Would they be able to stomach the kind of pure brutality he could mete out? Silent, quick, efficient, and deadly was what was asked for. A subtle, almost non-existent footprint. And so Ket Van-Derveld would oblige them.

For now, he simply waited, listening as Marcella spoke to her contact, an almost eerie cheer to her words. He'd give the woman in the smart suit that much. She was quite unnerving, to say the least. It was those types that kept the nights interesting. The ones that broke away from the norm. The ones that had just enough of that special quality to make you wonder. The ones that were a lot like himself, he'd wagered. All he knew was that soon, it would be time to go to work.


~ Out of time, out of mind, the nightmare awakens... this, this is the Reign of Fear. ~
​

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Made, it was a rank stardust had earned through blood and violence, but a well proving herself a capable leader among the family. Stardust knew this was decades in the making and now here she was on recommendation by ivory to watch some of the new blood to see how they worked with everyone else and see if their up to the task. Among those was Dominik Borra someone stardust had personally recommended for service to the family.

The cold didnt bother her, even without her ring her armor kept her warm but even without it she would be just fine, speaking of her armor the face shield would be set to opaque hiding who she was. These people would just see her armored lekku and a symbol of clan solus proudly setting upon one of her pauldrons, on her hips would be a pair of Westars specially made for herself along with a pair of her Sabers, if anyone knew stardust they could identify her by these trademark weapons otherwise she looked like a very heavily armed mandalorian who took this job or was part of the family

Turning her vocalizer on her distorted voice came out

I am eager for the hunt, though I suppose this is more of a...mmm...amusement for myself

 

[Jai'galaar Gred]

Gear: In bio

Jay sighed a bit as he looked at the others, having kept his hood and scarf up not only to make it more difficult to tell what he looked like, but also to keep that blasted cold off him! He finally pulled the scarf down to light a Sage Cigarra and quickly took a puff half for extra warmth. He looked down at is ships engineer, Ki'tala, who had come with him on this one. They had hitched a ride with Marcella Fiora , someone Jay had worked with once before. After lighting the cig, he quickly checked his revolvers before hearing some Jawa Trade language next to him.

"You're fine. Just don't stab anyone unless there's trouble, and you know what I mean." He hid his accent like usual, and the jawa looked up at the human for a bit, slowly lowering something. Jay just facepalmed, noticing the action. It was then that he noticed the heavily armed Mandalorian. Jay looked down, quickly putting out his cigarra and pulling up his face scarf again.

"So how much more freezing are we going to do?"

Niki Priddy Kruhlaish Dominik Borra Jade Solus Skirae Ket Van-Derveld Stardust Solus Skirae Ivory Stroud

 

[Ivory Stroud]

Meanwhile, elsewhere in District 9...

The maintenance tunnels were a maze of twisting corridors, pipes, open wires, pitfalls, catwalks, and pitch-black voids. Sufferers of claustrophobia would have been terrified of the murky depths, finding themselves wandering endless tunnels which appeared all-too-similar; buried beneath the plates which separated each level from the other. If one traveled far enough, following the archaic symbols painted on the walls, they could likely travel from the Sunlight Lofts to the Midnight Zone... but safety was no guarantee; for in these dark reaches, stranger things than homeless & forgotten discretes dwelled.

The terrible cold reached even here, though Ivory found (shortly after descending within) that some of the generators & heating units were still live, pouring warm, humid air into the darkened spaces. The smell of poorly recycled air, dust, urine, mold, & old chemicals caused her nose to wrinkle in disgust. Quietly, she & her companion - one of her soldiers, who was likewise armed & clothed in a heavy coat to fight against the chill - crept along the tunnels by the light of personal torches. Her bodyguard had already opened his jacket to keep from overheating.

From Ivory's left wrist, a small baby-blue holographic projection shimmered, indicating a basic map of the tunnels which stretched around them in all directions. Every so often, Ivory & the man walking behind her would refer to the readout, ensuring they were going the proper direction.

Twice, the stillness was broken by sudden noise; a fan screaming in protest as its old motor suddenly whirred to life, or a blast of pressure from a valve which suddenly spit hot moisturized air.

Ivory didn't mind enclosed spaces... but already, she wanted out of this metallic crypt.

Their objective lay ahead, down a flight of stairs, trhough what appeared to be a large ventilation shaft, and beyond a secured area that was likely gated: the district's primary habitat control array.

She was under no illusion they were down here alone. Already, upon approaching the maintenance hatch they'd used to enter, Ivory & her escort had marked a CorpSec vehicle abandoned on the street outside. If they were going to solve this weather issue, they'd likely have to contend with members of CorpSec's tech team first.

Ivory tried not to think about the other members of her Family, who were likely already pursuing their own goals above. She had to remain focused on the task at hand.

Niki Priddy Marcella Fiora Dominik Borra Ket Van-Derveld Stardust Solus Skirae Jade Solus Skirae Jai'galaar Gred Kruhlaish

 

[Niki Priddy]

DENON
DISTRICT 9​

Objective: Find Zerø
Weapon: 'Revy', "The Klaive" - PDW
Equipment: PCA/EA, Priddy Plates, x2 Hutt Cartel Kidnap Jabber Rings-One on either hand, Force Warning Necklace Pendant, Paralyzing Lipstick, ENVC-370 Bodyglove, Tinfoil Hat Band, Earsculpt Comlink, Magno-grip Formal shoes
Augmentation: PGEM-SAP "Amber Eyes"
Ship: The Tourist
Droids: x6 Nuisance Engine Mark I Droids capable of producing Nuisance Droid Mark I and SD-3 Firebee Security Droid, two separate crates of Jitterbugs

​

<<Sour. Did you send that signal?>> Matthew popped up over their personal line. Even knowing she had, the twinge of needing to tease him emerged. Something that had begun in her early days with the Agents of Chaos. A passing thing when he questioned the integrity of her designs. Something that had not withstood the events of that night in Zerø's warehouse.

Mostly.

<<Why do you ask?>> She mused back, waiting patiently for people to begin converging on her location. The smile she wore now was something between joy and slight sadism as she heard Matthew exhale deeply.

<<Got movement from a lot of those wandering around not identified as Zerø's. Thought I'd ask.>> Matthew came back, pondering whether to shoulder the rifle or not as a few drew close enough to the speeder to warrant his full attention.

<<You must be getting tired and seeing things.>> She mused back, seeing the first form come closer and closer as the smile faded to a more neutral look. The rumbling of Nuisance Engine's beside the speeder opening a side flap on the massive Droid and spitting out a smaller force pike wielding Droid. The much smaller Nuisance Droid chirped at her, moving to the containers and scraping at each back section in a rotation.

Gathering the droids inside towards the unseen rear hatch that had yet to be opened. The small Nuisance Droid's that were visible would begin forming small squads. Pitting themselves against each other in mock battles as their mandibles scraped and scratched at each other.

<<I might be tired but you and I both know I don't see things.>> Matthew shot back at her with a coolness that only matched the irritation and anger she was letting simmer below the surface of her calm facade.

They still had to make contact with Ivory's people. And that required patience. And diplomacy to a smaller degree. Getting her own assets too riled wouldn't be helpful at the moment as Marcella drew even closer.

Even as he spoke, he set the electrobinoculars down and shouldered the Sniper rifle in preparation for defending his companion. His earpiece buzzed as Niki sighed.

<<I did engage the signal. Anyone coming to me is likely an asset of Ivory's. Unless I give our signal, hold your fire.>> She could hear the relief in his exhale. Knowing full well the sound of his preparation to fire with accuracy as what she guessed was the first of many contacts for the night initiated contact.

Lovely night for it.

Even in the dim light, the woman would be able to see the hint of a smile form beneath the softly glowing amber hue of Niki's eyes. She hadn't engaged the night vision that was present in them, instead zooming in enough to scan for facial features.

She didn't have a database like those so augmented to be able store visual images in a computerized compartment of their brain. But she had the cognitive ability to recall a grand amount of details after the fact. Even minute details across a vast databank aided by an Artificial Intelligence garnered whatever she was searching for.

Settling herself a little better, she began to speak. The personal weapon she was wielding sat the small of her back, though only just given the size of it. More like hiding a large box behind ones back if they paid attention to the way she carefully leaned with her shoulders against the speeder.

"A bit cold. But hiding inside warms the body and gathers the rats. Call me Sour for the time being." She informed the first being to arrive. A code name shared with Ivory to be passed along to those coming to help Niki this night. More formal names would come later if Ivory deemed it so.

Another spoke, the only sign of their features being armored lekku. If it weren't for the fact of missing cranial spikes she might have guessed Togruta, but the singular pair of montrails gave her a decent idea of what was beneath the armor. The symbols meant little to her personally but they likely meant more to the wider galaxy. The parts that drew her attention however were the sabers and what looked to be custom blasters on the Twi'lek's hip.

The amber hued eyes stared sharply at the pair of weapons before looking back to the symbols. She'd sworn she might have seen that one somewhere before. Eternal Empire maybe? Was a curious thing as she pondered more and more about it. A sneaking suspicion of who might be beneath that armor growing in the back of her mind. Not spoken yet without some confirmation to the notion.

I am eager for the hunt, though I suppose this is more of a...mmm...amusement for myself

Definitely fit the idea of what a mandalorian was for Niki at least. The body posture was nothing if not cautiously confident between the two that had approached. Though to be fair, Niki herself was standing without much care to be spotted by anyone with a set of ocular organs.

Another had been behind the first to approach her. A pair actually as the Jawa spoke up. A rise to her brow as she listened to the pair. Her eyes squinted against the dark, fairly certain she'd seen the face somewhere before. If only in passing. Or maybe.

The familiarity was like an itch on her back. Instead of lingering on it, she moved on.

"Won't be a glorious hunt. But definitely an amusing one. At least for someone well armed as yourself. The real goal is total annihilation of the rats that live here after all. And the big one is mine." She informed the duo before setting the controller aside.

Opening the speeder door, she pulled out a datapad of all the findings that Matthew had found so far. Her own ability to process the information had led to mere minutes of skimming and memorizing the data as she handed over the datapad with little concern. A throwaway was nothing to concern herself with.

It wasn't connected to her larger systems. Her own paranoia about personal belongings something of a given with her increased time in the core worlds.

The Agents had been spoiling of sorts with their liberties of information and sharing along the farthest fringes of the galaxy. Those inner government types being ruthless and cunning as they were with friends and foes alike a worrisome issue that she had already planned to stem with little more than closed circuit systems. Disabled from her larger ones even at an inconvenience to herself at times.

The datapad was largely unguarded in access. If whoever took it began to look through the assorted data actually bothered to notice the only real security settings on the thing was the lock screen function. A lack of remote access to the holonet, a lack of finer features, and a distinct lack of elaborate controls.

Spartan and purpose made for the coming job.

"Zerø's gang has almost complete control over the district as far as I can tell. Save for the occasional pay off from whichever corporate entities are purchasing spice from the group. They largely operate in the daytime, with limited patrols at night given the lack of gear or augmentations across the whole of the gang." Began the explanation as she took back the controller from the speeder seat and began programming the tasks she had in mind for the spider sized droids.

The back of the cargo speeder came alive with noise. The sound of high pitched metallic scraping begins to almost rhythmically emanate from the covered cargo area. The small, fire projecting Jitterbugs forming into neat lines at the base of the speeder around Niki's feet before beginning to scurry off into the dark of the district.

All the while she spoke and held the attention of the other two while programming her commands.

"
I have brought a selection of smaller swarm droids with me. Those running off right now are Jitterbugs that will bring down the main power line running to the Zerø gang's headquarters on command. It'll force them to use their auxiliary Generators but also put them on high alert whenever we move in." She explained quickly as she nodded behind her to the growing squads of Nuisance Droid's being actively made by the Nuisance Engine's behind her.

"Aside from what you see here, these two containers hold more droids that have been made throughout the day. They'll assist with the initial siege along with room clearing as expendable breach options. Aside from that, you are free to use whatever means to eradicate the gang that you see fit. Blades, guns, force powers. It doesn't matter to me so long as civilians aren't hurt. If anyone has a chance while on the streets, they are free to take out patrols while we move on to the warehouse." She began the ending of her statement as she pointed to the datapad. Cut off as the hiss from the containers made it known that the timer had finished its countdown from when she had left earlier in the day.

The slow recession of hidden access panels revealed a writhing swarm of small force pike wielding droids and flying wasp style droids in both containers. It seemed when the floor had become full of the scampering quadrupedal variety, the Engines had shifted to their flying variant of programs. They waited for their creator to let them free of the container.

Like obedient and well trained animals, they lingered inside the now open containers for their signal.

"The droids will move around those I make known to them as friendly. I don't need names, merely something to set apart the signature data. If I tap the signal line for the frequency that should be enough to keep friendly fire at bay." As much a question of permission as a demand. While they looked like capable beings in their own right, a swarm nearing the hundreds was something even capable warriors would struggle with in a cramped corridor.

And she did despise wasting talent in such a way.

She did not allow the droid swarm to leave their confines just yet. Without the friendly signature data being confirmed, she didn't want any problems to arise from what was meant to be a first meet and greet. The thought also brought with it the realization of having not introduced the last element of what she had brought to the operation for the night.

"A final bit of information. I have my own asset, Badger, nested in the unfinished apartment building just over there on overwatch." She did direct her attention towards the tallest building in the district for the moment with a not so subtle wave in that direction. The glint of the electrobinoculars in the light eventually being made clear to her eyes at least given the slight bit of distance between them.

Even with the optical zoom in her augmented eyes, she struggled to make out his figure against the dark backdrop.

"If you have any questions about the data or what else is expected, feel free to ask. The only thing I'm asking for is Zerø, the gang's leader, to be left for me to deal with personally." As she spoke, the large Nuisance Engines began plodding forward toward the rear of the containers. Having no weapons they posed no threat to those outside. Instead moving in preparation to keep the smaller droids within range of the signal that kept them from exploding.

And to await the collection of fallen droids to break down and rebuild them as needed.

The information on the datapad would detail not only the patrols outside of the headquarters, but their routes or what they consisted of for the most part. Jagged paths that roughly covered the entire district in some way. Rarely did two paths intersect. Whether by choice or actual planning it was rare for one patrol to come across the other for long.

The only note of observation was when the patrols did meet, the two groups had a tendency to speak for an extended amount of time. Likely why they rarely crossed paths.

The patrol's equipment varied greatly. Most wielding blasters and a melee weapon of some variety. Whether a Stun Baton or a Bladed weapon that was stashed in their clothing. Observant eyes catching the small details of clothing being misshapen or obviously hiding something beneath them through the lense Matthew had trained on them for most of the afternoon into the manufactured light of the evening.

The goons that he watched enter the headquarters had given him little to work with. Patrols coming and going. Same information as before though the beefy trio that hung around the outer and inner front entrance was something of note. He couldn't tell from the distance, maxing out his zoom before being able to notice anything under the halfway decent suits they wore.

One seemed to bear a strange face. Perhaps augmented, but from the distance he couldn't make out anything distinctive. The ones he was concerned about truly were the ones that had slipped the side entrances.

They seemed a bit more able than the ones that wandered the streets, and had even seen a few scoping out and around the buildings near the warehouse complex turned headquarters.

He guessed they were equipped in a similar fashion though likely with some modicum of armor beneath the better clothing they wore. Each had seemed slicked up as opposed to the rather civilian goons that he'd been minding all day. A few had remained outside, their path and likely position noted on the holomap that detailed the patrol routes. A different color than the other rabble to make clear which he had meant.

The estimates on numbers inside the building were at best a loose guess. Varying reports from the local departments that she had data mined through her own engineering of a burner AI system. The poor construct had done its job well but eventually quieted as the anti-slicing measures had kicked in and burnt it out.

But enough had been pulled to give them a better idea of how many vermin existed inside that building. A small army waited inside. A quarter of those on site being guards and hired muscle of some variety, though existing largely to protect the product they pedaled so readily to rich and poor alike.

Another quarter of those present were the dealers and product handlers. The middle men of the whole operation Zerø had in the district. Most never did anything more dangerous than accept a bride or brandish a blaster, the heavy lifting done by the other goons that called the building home.

Another quarter were the chemists. Cooking down spice, refining it, or passing off the barely usable variety with a warning about that batch in house for the cheapest of buyers only.

The last group were something of a mystery. Jack of all trades it seemed. Capable of filling voids within the building as needed or in case someone was having a bit too much fun sampling. They cooked, cleaned, patrolled, and did nearly everything just not nearly as well as others might have. Across all the groups, weapons were kept to a uniform familiarity of blasters and melee weapons.

The time for questions had arrived as the Jitterbugs began to cross the district under the cover of night. Headed for the power relay directly tying into the warehouse headquarters and waiting for their signal to work.

Ivory Stroud | Kruhlaish | Jade Solus Skirae | Ket Van-Derveld | Marcella Fiora | Stardust Solus Skirae | Dominik Borra

​

 

[Ket Van-Derveld]

So, patrols to be dealt with, an entire building full of this Zerø Gang, spice being refined into all sorts of fun substances, a sniper perched above them, and a small army of droids that required something from those gathered for friend-or-foe purposes. The Lupine quietly mused to himself, wondering just how much of a total clusterkark this was going to become. What looked like a Boy and his Jawa had shown up to this little party, bringing a bit of a grin to his face. Never did like Jawas, too many run-ins with them back on Tatooine in his teenage years. And the boy himself, constantly trying to hide his face with a sort of scarf or kerchief. Looked like a pre-teen playing mercenaries to him, but hey, his funeral if he couldn't hold his own. Next to them, an armored Twi'Lek. Judging from the markings, she was a member of one of the mando clans. He didn't have much love for Mandos either. There was a very personal reason for that, and he wasn't even sure she belonged to one of the clans that were responsible for said reason. Another night, perhaps. Still, the tone of her voice, the way she moved, even the mere way she held herself as she stood. Arrogant, over-confidant, and slightly absent-minded. Typical of the Mandos, always thought their poodoo didn't stink. Still, could be worse... much, much worse.

​

"If you have any questions about the data or what else is expected, feel free to ask. The only thing I'm asking for is Zerø, the gang's leader, to be left for me to deal with personally." said the client, whom for now he only knew as Sour. With a particular amount of venom behind it when she uttered the name Zerø. He wasn't privy to the exact reason for this entire affair, but it didn't much matter. He was here solely because The Donna had asked him to be. He came from a time when respect and the merit of one's word meant something. So, just as Niki finished speaking, the datapad gently floated out of her hand, and into his own as he seemingly stepped from the shadows like a ghost. He looked it over for but a few moments, before handing it back.

​

"I've only one question. Do you want this 'Zerø' to be immobile when I bring him to you, or would you prefer him to still have the ability to move his extremities without the use of medical equipment?" said Ket as he looked to Niki and gave her a wink. That bit of a grin was still present, the streetlight glinting off those ever-present pronounced canine teeth of his, a twinkling in those sapphire eyes. He gave off the vibe of a man who did what he said, and let nothing stand in his way. And his question to her, it was one of absolute dead-on seriousness.

Niki Priddy Marcella Fiora Ivory Stroud Jai'galaar Gred Stardust Solus Skirae Dominik Borra Jade Solus Skirae
​

 

[Dominik Borra]

Dominik heard Sour's words over his commlink. Total annihilation, big boss was hers, swarm of droids. With a finger to his ear Dominik sent three short beeps, hoping that to be enough to keep him out of their warpath. There was also her associate, Badger, watching over them. The ex-Sith agent had sharp eyes and was an expert sniper, but there was only so much you could do without a day to scope out every building. The dark night, the amount of snow blocking visual line-of-sight, it'd be impossible for anyone to spot a sniper unless they were pointed out to them, squinted real hard, and had a terribly bright light.

Sour said that anyone following patrols, like himself, were good to take care of them once they made their move on the warehouse full of spice. Well, these guards were about to pass the perfect killing point and Sour was taking her sweet time getting things moving. It seemed to be happening soon and he didn't think there would be enough time for these guards to circle all the way back around to here before they moved. He reached into his right pocket and grabbed his knife.

The guards were passing through the alleyway with multiple turns, talking between themselves. Now would be best. No light from blasters would make it through all the dark corners, and sound would be muffled by the buildings and snow. Right past this was a side door entrance, perfect for his use. Come on, any second now. Dominik increased his walking speed, feet silent on the floor of the alleyway, free from snow because of the overhangs on the buildings above them. Their voices covered any sound from his clothes. The signal. Where was the blasted signal? He opened his knife the furthest it could go without clicking into place . He was practically breathing on their necks he was so close. Now was his best chance.

They turned the corner.

No signal.

Dom slowed and stopped at the last corner, hiding behind it while he let the pair walk on, completely unaware of who had been behind them. As they neared the side entrance door, it opened. A sly peak around the dark alleyway corner revealed one of the Zero gang coming outside for a smoke. He met the patrolling pair with a friendly greeting and they began talking while the one smoked. Well, at least this man's addiction had kept Dom somewhat lucky. He still believed he never got any luck, and how bad this could turn out if the patrol moved on without Dominik to follow, this smoker stopping his stalking.

The patrol's comms clicked and they checked in, same with the smoker. Well, at least that was something. They only checked in every hour, so they had now gone dark so to speak. He could kill them now and wait for the signal, but that was bad practice. You always wait for the orders to move first.

So there Dom waited, knife in one hand, around the blackened corner of an alleyway, staring at three Zero Gangsters at a side entrance.
"If you need a loud distraction away from the front entrance," Dom offered quietly through comms, "Just let me know."

Niki Priddy | Marcella Fiora | Ivory Stroud | Jai'galaar Gred | Stardust Solus Skirae | Jade Solus Skirae | Ket Van-Derveld​

 

[Kruhlaish]

*He merely responded with a couple of beeps to acknowledge that he got the message about the gang movements and for now he kept on the move following the patrols in question, his amphistaff coiled around as he kept quiet whilst he kept following them close as he could without drawing their attention...he had his orders to leave the gang leader alone for their new ally thankfully that doesn't exclude everyone else here.

He kept to the shadows as his Amphistaff uncoiled slowly and quietly as it was at the ready to lunge at his targets in question from a separate part of the warehouse so that they can attack at multiple fronts


Niki Priddy Ivory Stroud Marcella Fiora Stardust Solus Skirae Jade Solus Skirae Jai'galaar Gred Ket Van-Derveld

 

[Jade Solus Skirae]

Small army to clear out? sounds simple enough as she kept casually walking around the shadows themselves as she was keeping an eye on the patrols and went to pick and choose her prey, she double checked her gauntlets to make sure they where at the ready as she slowly but quietly tailed a small patrol of her own keeping with them until she was given the go ahead to attack she kept close enough to them to move on them once the signal was given.

How brutal was she going to be with this will be her own little secret..depends how quiet or noisey things get but she wont care either way she mostly showed up to snap some necks and said necks have presented themselves but she took note of her allies that where around her including the easy to spot Stardust Solus Skirae who was on the field as well, She thanked her genes that her eyes allowed her to see as well in the dark without help as she kept stalking her prey

Niki Priddy Ivory Stroud Marcella Fiora Kruhlaish Dominik Borra Ket Van-Derveld

 

[Diocletian Kahmen’’a]

Location: DENON DISTRICT 9
Equipment: Scimitar Railgun Carbine Rifle Thermal Detonators
Ship: Vampire
Tags: Niki Priddy | Marcella Fiora | Ivory Stroud | Jai'galaar Gred | Stardust Solus Skirae | Jade Solus Skirae | Ket Van-Derveld | Dominik Borra | Kruhlaish |

There was a need to arrive in Denon, to aid the Family or for his designs, the Ubese did not know but he was here ready to link up with the Family. It was strange, he had a bio family but he was drawn to Ivory's Family more. He had been thinking about life in general, which contrasted with the grizzly scene he has just created in a back alley, the mess was more than he wanted but it was a murder.

Taking his trophies he left the scene, the rain washing the worst of the blood off, so he can blend in. However, his kind was rare around these parts, Diocletian had to wonder if there was an Ubese Diaspora on Denon, the seediness would suit those with a gritter mindset. But they were notoriously insular, so they would not mix too much with Non-Ubese. So, they could be around here somewhere.

He's found some very special things here, things he cannot tell people he collects because they wouldn't understand. So far he hasn't found any. So as soon as he got the message of a new mission he abandoned his activities to link up with a Made Family Member. Diocletian was learning to cooperate as a team player but old ingrained habits are difficult to shake. Also, there is the main issue of how large the Planet was and how to find them, but then he remembered his personalised earpiece, he had to get a custom made one because his ears were oddly shaped and larger than what you'd expect on an Ubese. If he can't find someone he'll try to mind speak to them.

But what if they didn't have them on? With that, he headed in the direction of the sudden noises, which sounds like a fight.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

mmm no this wont be glorious there is zero glory in hunting rats....but i LOVE the fear they radiate especially when their fate is well deserved

she spotted Jade Solus Skirae , so her executioner still roamed and made way to the family, with a chuckle to herself she looked forward to Niki Priddy as the metallic clicking grew louder before she soon watched the spider droids make way for their task. she turned to watch them leave and turned back as she crossed her arms seeing the droid and let a audible laugh that sounded evil with the vocalizer

yes send the droids to soften them and add chaos, i love it! this will be a fun fight to observe....but do not worry i shall participate

looking to Jal she smiled as she stared at him, a Gred here was a great thing should be interesting, she wondered if Mig knew about Jal being here but put that to the back of her mind as she turned to Ket and observed him, the force radiated from this one and made Stardust turn fully hands near her blasters as she tilted her head and chuckled quietly

This one i like, his attitude is perfect, but remember to reign in your instincts wolf lest they cloud judgement

the words were meant to be teasing, she could see what he was she's seen many of them in her sixty five something years in this damned galaxy, looking to Niki and marc she spoke

when we are alone us three i wish to speak freely [/color}

 

[Marcella Fiora]

M A R C E L L AㅤF I O R A

'FIGHT DIRTY'​

Offering smirks and smiles as she listened to Niki explain the plan, Marcy' remained quiet, looking over the datapad she had just received, curious as to what she was dragging her crew into. The plan with the droids was wonderfully creative; Marcy's eyes glossed over the scampering droids, showing interest in seeing how they perform and what they're capable of.

As 'Sour' finished her briefing, Marcy' code signed in the air, knowing that her chosen were watching closely;

<<APPROACH>>

"A pleasure, 'Sour', I'm Marcy' " she grinned as four fully armed, sharply dressed mobsters approached behind Marcella, brandishing their loadouts to indicate they were ready~ yet also to let themselves known so they wouldn't become part of the bloody aftermath she expected from the droids. Suddenly, the newcomer, Ket Van-Derveld , made themselves known, offering a questionable comment- one that indicated he clearly wasn't listening.

"I've only one question. Do you want this 'Zerø' to be immobile when I bring him to you, or would you prefer him to still have the ability to move his extremities without the use of medical equipment?"

Marcy' offered a face of concern towards Ket, turning back towards Niki, "I apologise for my friends, they're.. eager to get started" she asserted as the members of the mob began to splinter off in preparation for the assault. Collecting herself once more she spoke again, "Mmm, no questions here~ the gang leader is all yours, this is your operation after all," affirmed Marcy', as they were all there at the behest of Ivory, to assist The Donna's acquaintance.

Now turning her attention to Stardust Solus Skirae , she couldn't help but comment on her remark to Ket, " ~what she said, keep your head screwed on.." Marcy' commented with concern, worried about the newcomer overextending themselves as if to prove something, although she had a feeling that Star was being funny. "And leave the gang leader.." she remitted, almost staring daggers at the tall, well-proportioned acquaintance who stood nearby.

"when we are alone us three i wish to speak freely"

Marcy' leant in to talk to the pair in a hushed tone, "Of course."

She was starting to become more comfortable around Stardust Solus Skirae as time went on, yet she still remained weary. Of all things in the universe, space wizards still worried her more than anything, the recent events of Tython only deepening those feelings~ she would never not be sceptical. Yet she was 'family', first and foremost, Marcy' could at least recognise this and could put some faith and trust in her. Maybe she wasn't so bad..

So there Dom waited, knife in one hand, around the blackened corner of an alleyway, staring at three Zero Gangsters at a side entrance.
"If you need a loud distraction away from the front entrance," Dom offered quietly through comms, "Just let me know."

Hearing the comms channel perk up as Dominik Borra spoke, Marcy' offered a simple response, "Standby, give us a few moments."

Returning to Niki, or 'Sour', she straightened herself up, "We're ready to go when you are, just say when," she smiled politely, maintaining her vibe of class and sophistication as she moved her hand into her blazer, resting her palm on the hilt of her blaster; while also remaining interested in what Star had to say.

 

[Jai'galaar Gred]

Equipment: In bio

Jai looked as the person they came to meet, "Sour" as she wanted to be called. She had a game plan. Distraction and force multiplier from droids, the Family, herself, and a friend would be the big guns, and she wanted this Zerø guy for herself. Easy enoug... He noticed Star staring at him, though he didn't really know who she was. Did that Mandalorian know.... No. He was fine. Then he heard Sour ask for permission to keep the droids from accidentally shooting at them.

"Call me Jay. I'm fine with that, and I'm sure Ki'tala here is too." Even though the Jawa's eyes were hidden she seemed to stare daggers at the bounty hunter. Then came some questions. Ket was eager, Marcella seemed to try and calm him down some, while Star noted liking his spirit. Jai looked down a bit, thinking.

"Any sort of quiet you want? My revolvers aren't exactly stealthy."

Niki Priddy Kruhlaish Dominik Borra Jade Solus Skirae Ket Van-Derveld Stardust Solus Skirae Ivory Stroud Diocletian Kahmen’’a

 

[Viz Harridan]

VIZ HARRIDAN
Current Personality:

Viz Harridan was not Viz Harridan at the moment, but Stilza Oclure, her Second Personality. Viz herself was astral projecting over the scene before her, and shadowing Marcy. Marcella Fiora knew that Stilza was driving the body, and hoped her direct boss didn't mind or even would welcome Stilza's volatile nature, if only because she was a deadshot and the best pick in an actual fight.

She listened, her body in the shadows, scanning each person present with her HUD for any information she could pick of of them but seeing no real threats outstanding. The crew was... eclectic. This far out of her way, she'd expected nothing less in general, but after Tython, she couldn't ever really expect anything.

Reminded of the events on Tython, Stilza absently fingered the Vornskyr canine on the pommel of her newly constructed lightsaber, the Eye of Koda nestled inside it, venting through a series of hot wires she'd soldered between its sleeves. It was better than it was now, and she didn't have to remember to disengage it to risk overheating, which took at least one thing off of her. With her free hand, she ground one of Marcella's cigarra's underfoot.

"I've asked you repeatedly not to smoke." Viz grumbled from above.

Stilza shot her a wayward ill-meant gesture, and the group members who saw her looked at her askance. She chuckled and spat phlegm to the side before grinning at them and shrugging "Best get used to me talking to myself boys, there are are four of us in here and limited space."

Her eyes fell on Jai'galaar Gred , and she assessed him. He seemed shifty, to note. She got the idea he was hiding something. Newcomer and Eager Bleager Ket Van-Derveld was ten seconds from jumping the gun, and the others... well some were shifting against the cold. Kruhlaish , as usual, was giving her her share of creeps with his silent stoicism... and the people she'd not met before she simply watched. Stilza wasn't champing at the bit like the group seemed to be; This was a fekkin dungeon crawl and she was there to shoot people and steal shiz. She would 100% follow through with that plan, and if Marcy wanted them to grind her heels, she would. Snitch, who'd been keeping warm under her scarf, popped his head out and cackled in the direction of the Jawa associate of Jay's. The Kowakian Monkey Lizard didn't like her, but Stilza thought her charming with her little titters of comment she ventured every now and again. Snitch leapt from her shoulder to Ket and Stilza adjusted her gloves, reaching across to pluck the Kowakian Monkey Lizard from the poor mans personal space. She patted the man on the shoulder in good faith, whispering so as not to disrupt the party waiting. "Sorry, He does that to people he likes, he's a Kriffing loon." She held out her hand as another extension of goodwill. "Stilza Oclure. Not to be confused with Viz Harridan, whose body I share, though I think she's floating around somewhere."

"You're a Flunkwad" Viz rolled her eyes and Stilza grinned. Making friends before an adventure was cathartic, especially if one was trying not to get killed. Friends also made good human shields.

Niki Priddy Dominik Borra Jade Solus Skirae Stardust Solus Skirae Ivory Stroud Diocletian Kahmen’’a

 

[Niki Priddy]

DENON
DISTRICT 9​

Objective: Find Zerø
Weapon: 'Revy', "The Klaive" - PDW
Equipment: PCA/EA, Priddy Plates, x2 Hutt Cartel Kidnap Jabber Rings-One on either hand, Force Warning Necklace Pendant, Paralyzing Lipstick, ENVC-370 Bodyglove, Tinfoil Hat Band, Earsculpt Comlink, Magno-grip Formal shoes
Augmentation: PGEM-SAP "Amber Eyes"
Ship: The Tourist
Droids: x6 Nuisance Engine Mark I Droids capable of producing Nuisance Droid Mark I and SD-3 Firebee Security Droid, two separate crates of Jitterbugs

​

Movement caught his attention once more after a group seemed to form around Niki. With her dismissal of those gathering around her as being benign, he'd let his gaze wander around their immediate area. The small horde of droids were likely the special package she had brought from the ship rather than the ones he'd been expecting. Even squinting through the scope and hitting the zoom, he didn't manage to catch which ones they were exactly.

<<Droids on the move. Which ones did you let loose Sour?>> Matthew bothered to ask, unsure if he would actually get an answer.

The question came between the others posing their own questions and information as Niki kept her gaze to those around her.

<<Jitterbugs.>> She spoke clearly, not clarifying for those around her who she was speaking to. The controller folded in her hands before moving to a pocket inside the long coat. Her hearing finally losing track of the little droids she'd sent ahead of the assembled group.

But there was a distinct lack of a particular sound that made her pause.

The distinct click in the earpiece Matthew wore was the subtle signal she gave by pushing a strand of hair behind her ear that demanded his undivided attention. The scope swiveled to her position as he waited for further signals from Niki. The sights sliding across the figures assembled there.

She went over her own words in her mind, wondering why the sound of scuffling hadn't reached her yet. The question posed by the twi'lek drew her attention, giving a brief nod as a frown formed at her phrasing. She'd spoken too quickly it appeared. Or at least in a fashion that had mixed the intended signal. A deep sigh coming from Niki as her overwatch spoke in her ear.

<<Orders?>> Matthew asked with a cold certainty. Unaware that she hadn't meant for his sights to be set in her direction.

The rifle was set comfortably into the crook of his shoulder. Hands and arms set to take keep the recoil from bucking his sight picture while the temporary shooting position provided a stable platform in the form of saw horses.

<<You are going to be the signal to start the hunt. Find a decent target and I'll give you the signal.>> She informed him. Whether the gusty sigh was one of relief or irritation didn't matter much at the moment as a figure appeared to pose a question about the leader and the state she wished him to be in. The slow bat of her eyes in the man's direction allowed when two other voices informed the hot head to rein in the eagerness.

Had it not been for the duo stepping in she might have let her temper slip the leash a bit more.

"Alive. Whole preferably. Regardless, excessive injuries Zerø receives before I get him will be shared by the perpetrator. He has a gross debt to repay. And his flesh is the only thing I'll accept." She let her voice roll out in a slow and growing hiss. The rings in her eyes drawing closer together to memorize the man's face that had asked the question.

Her hands had slipped into her coat, the need to busy them nearing the limit of her willpower to ignore as she side eyed the mobile Droid factories behind her.

While the help was appreciated, the eagerness to target her particular quarry reminded her why she preferred the cold, concise nature of droids.

Produced from the other pocket, another device appeared. Resembling a datapad, the screen lit up briefly as she tapped across the screen with a growing and plainly visible display of disdain appearing across her features.

"Everyone else can begin moving forward with the plan. Which includes-" Came the words as the communicator between Niki and Matthew blipped thrice in quick succession before a final chirp finished the sequence. "Taking out patrols."

The sharp hiss of trifold energies singing from a shrouded position as a sliver of blue charric energy dazzled the night sky. It found purchase in a far and away patrol of three. With the rifle in question, a shot to center mass was all it took to send the goon backwards into the slush. Even with thick clothing to fend off the cold greedily devouring the foreign source, the heat from the impact could be felt by the other two that stared down to their fellow gang member.

Awe struck, it gave Matthew enough time to squeeze off another shot with ease as the second crumpled with a shot in the back while the final one turned to try to see where the shot had come from. He almost felt guilty about how easy it was to center the sights on the gawking face. The round sizzling through the air in time for horror to be realized across their face.

Before it was unable to make another look as the final member of the outer patrol fell into the mush of melting snow.

The snap of the bolts would be heard only nearby. Though the sight of dancing lights did draw the attention of the guards at the front of the warehouse. With the distance though, they weren't entirely sure what they were seeing. A strange midnight game of laser tag? Hooligans often played around on Denon in the dark of night to give them cover and stranger things usually went ignored as the larger goons shrugged when another sign of the strange lights didn't happen right away.

The jitterbugs were quickly working their way across the surfaces granted to them. Clambering up with metallic clicks of the magnetized limbs against the slim pickings of metal surfaces as they positioned themselves across the junctions of power to the warehouse turned headquarters. The final signal from their creator the only thing 3 of the 26 droids waited for before scorching the connections with concentrated plasma torches. The other 23 kept their fuel in reserve for the more sinister idea that their creator had yet to reveal.

"I believe we have a short time to speak now. Though I regret to inform you I left my private meeting outfit on my ship." She shrugged, slipping the second controller into its pocket as the droid factories began to amble forward with the small horde of droids swarming around the quadrupedal larger droids.

Those watching the display, however brief, would watch the smaller droids move through the path of the larger droids with speed. A dangerous game of eventuality perhaps as the larger Droid stepped forward, almost crushing one of the smaller droids beneath the reinforced leg. The lumbering figures would dissappear into the night with the rolling concert of their thunderous steps announcing them as they walked.

The disdain slipped from her features as the wolf man took his leave, eyes narrowing a final time before the faintest hint of a smile appeared in its place. She couldn't hold the irritated air about her with the source leaving them.

"That one seems a bit too eager. Or do lupines always pull that hard on their leash?" While she hadn't had any direct interactions prior to the species, she'd heard enough from her associate Scherezade DeWinter to realize what the armored twi'lek had insinuated by their earlier comment.

"Ah. I'm being rude. You wanted to speak?" Niki removed her hands from her pocket, lacing them together before letting them rest against her stomach.

Ivory Stroud | Kruhlaish | Jade Solus Skirae | Ket Van-Derveld | Marcella Fiora | Stardust Solus Skirae | Dominik Borra | Diocletian Kahmen’’a | Viz Harridan

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