HVT: Ace Of Spades (Open)

[Helion'Nuruodo]

[SIZE=13.5pt]Hutt Space...[/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.5pt]The Smugler's Moon....[/SIZE]

​

[SIZE=10.5pt]Wraith cleaned his SMG whilst Keeper continued to look out the window for any unusual happenings. Wraith dismantled the weapon, oiling it's parts with gentle touch, caressing it as you would a lover, overtime he had gotten to know this weapon inside and out. Having finished he quickly put it back together. Satisfied now that it was free of muck and grime. This place had a way of making him feel filthy. So, he often found himself cleaning an already pristine gun. It was this that kept him occupied most of the time. He and Keeper had been undercover for sometime now.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Waiting in this kark hole. Wraith kicked a can at his feet in boredom. The place they currently resided in was an abandoned hotel, scheduled for demolition. The windows were covered in newspaper, electricity didn't run through the place, but water did. It was a haven for the downtrodden and illegal aliens that entered Hutt space without proper visas, or had nowhere else to go. In truth no one suspected anything when a pair of grimy looking Chiss moved into what used to be a penthouse suite on the top floor. They were just another couple of spacers come to try their luck on The Smuggler's Moon.[/SIZE][SIZE=11.5pt]..[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11.5pt]But truth was they had been sent by the Ascendancy for some wetwork. They were to knix the Ace Of Spades, without incident or trace. The alien was a powerful Nikto with known connections to the Hutt cartel. He also had the death mark in over seven systems, giving him a pretty large bounty. His name was Shor Lumsuch. Lum rarely exited his Casino/Hotel's own penthouse suite. When he did it would only be for a trip to the red light district. His hover limousine was armored and hover truck's with armed guards were attached as it's escort. The red light club he liked to visit was called Smokin' Ace. Ironic. It was less guarded then his personal Casino, so this is where the Chiss decided to hit him.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11.5pt]They had watched his routine for weeks. Been inside the club when he was not around and even made a few astute observations. They had reason to believe he was sweet on a slave girl housed in the top floor. VIP only. As such they had had a hard time getting in and speaking with her. On top of this they suspected an electromagnetic field was operated within the top floor. Every time they sent a camera drone in it would simply fail. But from what they picked up based on conversation around the bar was that her name was Vixen and she was top notch in her line of work.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11.5pt]So, good that she had almost worked herself to freedom. But, the owner being the sleaze he was decided to sell her instead. Now she was going to be auctioned off. Meaning Lum was sure to be there for an extended amount of time, along with a gaggle of Nar'Shadda's finest.. They had a way to get close, but not in. Wraith, had got a job as an armed guard for the club. But, club guards weren't aloud to go beyond the third to last floor. Their were eight floors in total. So, that put him on the fifth. That was as good as it was going to get.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11.5pt]The compact SMG folded into something akin to a briefcase, which he prepared to carry to the location. "Target's limousine has just arrived and your shift starts in five minutes," Keeper said without looking away from the window "Copy," Wraith muttered.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11.5pt]With gun briefcase in hand he began to make his way down the stairs and out the abandoned hotel. His wear for today was grimy pleather jacket, a black under shirt, and blue jeans tucked into a pair of work boots. He looked your average spacer. His gun was not blaster material and held no electronics. It would get past the scanners just fine. So, long as they weren't trying to detect led...[/SIZE]

 

[Desmond Carter]

Carter always preferred clandestine operations. Those which put his ability to test to see whether they would hold up under the pressure or shatter. This was one such operation. Appearing as average beanie wearing spacers, his half of his fireteam approached a less surveyed side of the building. The two of them all had magnetic boots and climbing gear, keeping a keen eye out for anyone watching before tossing the magnetic 'hooks' up the side of the building. Before making the ascent he slid a finger into his ear, activating the commlink. "Kal and I are in position. Jerek, see anything?"

Kal, his immediate inferior was a good friend from his time in the Alliance. A hapan with a set of almost comedic goggles to assist with low-light situation. He always wore a goofy grin and kept his carbine close, and a cigarra closer. Jerek on the other hand was a more gaunt zabrak, possessing the instinct and cold-blooded nature of a serpent. Located merely across the street upon the skeleton of a hotel undergoing renovations with a scoped rifle overlooking their ascent, the crowd, and the windows of the Smokin' Ace. Lastly another soldier, the remainder of the fireteam, sat in a rented landspeeder, schmoozing with the locals. His name was Heth, or so he called himself, the latest addition to their little team. A rookie by all standards, yet bearing a little too much experience for Carter's liking. Whether the operation succeeded or failed, he was their escape route.

"All clear, Sergeant. I advise caution on the seventh floor, patrolling sentry droid. The sensors will pick you up if you get to close," Jerek responded, his voice a low whisper barely audible above the din of the city.

"I'll keep that in mind, notify me of anything else. Carter out." With a confirming nod to Kal the two of them their personal stealth generators and began to climb.

Carter was never one for money, not that they were being payed a bounty for this mission. Lum had garnered quite the reputation among Republic circles, even souring relations with the crime syndicates which prowled under the red half-starbird. His elimination would sever one of the hutt's many influencing arms in the Republic, but also remove a constant thorn in the civilian government's side. Yet such operations required finesse. No one would learn of this task beyond his superiors, and Carter had no intention of disappointing them.

[member="Helion'Nuruodo"]

 

[H3xle]

The atmosphere inside Smokin' Ace was thick with the heady aroma of the many vices the establishment provided its customers. As her tail snaked back and forth slowly, stirring the air with its ebon furred length, Araya kept her eyes roving. She was trying to find just the right mark that would let her access the higher levels. This was a place that fed various vices, and Araya was all too aware of several vices that included her particular type of alien. To adapt to such a role, she was dressed in clothing that was far too uncomfortable for her, a dress that would draw the eyes to her. She was never comfortable in the spotlight, but she was enough of a thespian to fake it.

She didn't typically pick up wetwork contracts, it was a fast way to get known in an industry where anonymity was often the key to success. Things lined up, however, that let this bounty coincide with another contract she had taken. In Hutt space, allegiances were always fluid, and an up and coming young Hutt was trying to muscle in on the red light district here. Araya was being paid a mighty sum to procure security credentials into the system of a rival Hutt who happened to own Smokin' Ace. She had been able to trace a secure connection from the target Hutts compound to Smokin' Ace, and though the vice den was still what Araya would consider a hardened target, it was a great deal more open than any Hutt compound.

Araya's eyes alighted on a young male Nikto who was, in turn, eyeing her quite openly. He was wearing the colors that identified him as belonging to Shor Lumsuch's gang, but was young enough to be merely a grunt. Her eyes moved away, such a mark wouldn't be able to get her close to either the security room, nor Lumsuch. She moved deeper into the crowd, angling away from the elevator that led to the higher levels. Her senses warned her of someones interest and proximity moments before their hand brushed the fur at the base of her skull with a slightly too heavy hand. She turned and arched a brow at the scarred Zabrak who slowly took his hand away and grinned at her. His clothing had likewise marked him as belonging to Lumsuch's entourage, and he was both scarred enough and confident enough in this atmosphere to be a possible way to get up close with the gangster.

"Salan oe uon a asefa?" The Zabrak asked, utilizing one of the common thieves cants that had spawned on the smugglers moon.

Araya let a smirk warm her face, and her eyes danced with mirth she only partially felt. She slipped into the cant easily, like putting on a favored outfit and finding that it still fit perfectly.

"Sab mon bi bura to'd bina. " She lowered her eyes demurely, and turned to walk towards the bar on the first level. It was only a moment before she felt his slightly too heavy hand on her shoulder, a gangster trying so hard to play the part of a gentleman in a Nar'Shaddaa vice den.

"Hibni, hibni. Our asefa mon fu there. " He nodded towards the elevator and offered her his arm.

Now she truly felt the mirth that danced in her eyes and caused her grin as she took his arm and let him lead her towards the elevator. Getting into the elevator on the first floor was one of the hardest parts of her plan, and now it was time to see how high up this mark could get her.

| [member="Helion'Nuruodo"] | [member="Desmond Carter"] |​

 

[Helion'Nuruodo]

[SIZE=12pt]Wraith entered the club and was immediately patted down by a gaggle of guards. But, he wasn’t worried, the gits couldn’t find a bomb if it was shoved up their arse holes. They waved him through despite the fact he had multiple magazines sowed into his jacket with a neuranium weave. He picked up his briefcase and scanned the area for possible threats. The first level sported quite the party tonight. Gangs from all over had come wearing their flags, and with them their pride. They reached after women and with a slap or a pinch they’d find what they were after. Stock danced upon tables, while the back booths were alive with the more rambunctious and wealthy sort. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Wraith detested it, but his mask never waned. He simply appeared another two bit gangster. This place was clear, at least as plain as a club filled with made men was going to get. Wraith walked to the stairs and began his ascent, the elevator was for guest use only. The Fifth hall was lined with rooms and a pair of guards stood at attention near the end. Upon reaching the fifth floor he went directly to the locker room. The security room was based just to the left of the guards. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]He had studied their routines and mannerisms for quite some time now. One avoided the others gaze while the other stared vehemently forward, as if they were in some kind of feud. When Wraith’s shift started the one on the right almost always went to the bathroom. He had learned their names to be Titus and Crosk. They were as dim witted as the guards bellow, but more heavily armed, and Wraith couldn’t help but wonder who decided to give these idiots disruptors? Wraith entered the room and Crosk gave him a brief nod before heading to the bathroom within the lockers. As Crosk approached the urinal, Wraith thought on how It would be the last thing he ever did.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]He unfolded his SMG and attached a small cylindrical device to it’s tip. A silencer. He pointed the weapon at Crosk. At this range there was no need to aim down the sights. He hip fired a three round burst into Crosk’s form. His blood splattering across the urinal mixing in with his own piss. Wraith exited the Locker room and fired another burst into Titus, whilst he was looking the other way. Wraith opened the door to the Security room and spied the lead guardsman fast asleep. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]No need to waist bullets on this one. He placed his SMG on the terminal counter and approached the man from behind, his footsteps never to be heard. The guards eyes shot open as Wraith’s hands wrapped around his head. Twisting with all his might he snapped the man’s neck. He withdrew his datapad and inserted it into the terminal in front of him. As the device connected it attempted to guess the password of the terminal with thousands if not millions of different words. All this took but a moment before the terminal yielded to the device. Wraith downloaded the floor plans to the upper levels then connected his pad to the camera feeds on all floors. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]He crashed the main terminal, but kept everything he downloaded on his datapad active. With sufficient coverage he went about his last task. He entered the locker room once more and grabbed hold of Crosk limp body, he dragged the Trandoshan into the Security room. Then he grabbed Titus and threw him in there as well. Wraith grabbed the lead security guards badge and then closed the door behind him. He estimated he had at least thirty minutes before they found the bodies. He folded his gun back into the briefcase and wondered what awaited him on the sixth floor...[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt][member="Araya"][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt][member="Desmond Carter"][/SIZE]

 

[William Kerkov Jr.]

Bill didn't like Lumsuch, but a job was a job and a pirate couldn't be picky.

The Smuggler's Moon was a rock ripe with opportunity, but after the stunt Bill pulled on Sriluur, he had seen his market options decrease tenfold. He should've known better than to turn his back on the Hutt remnants down at the White Palace, and, although unknowingly at the time, help the Commenori Abolotionist Task Force. But his greed had gotten the better of him, and now he was blacklisted in half of Hutt Space. His crew nearly threw him out of the airlock before he found this job. Nothing fancy, use his vessel as a picket guard for a convoy shipment of illegal substances through some unknown hyperspace route through Confederate-held Space. Shor Lumsoch paid well, and his deathmark made the labor market just as dry as Bill's.

It had taken a while to get this. First he had to apply through the right channels, grease the right gears, and pass the preliminary interview with one of his lieutenants. So far, he had managed to avoid any kark ups, and all that was left was a simple approval by Lum himself. Of course, their scheduled meeting had to get overtaken by some auction of a slave girl Lum seemed to favor. Now, time was a limited factor, and it seemed Lum didn't mind settling business at the auction, so Bill could get the Akira's Star ready for business by the time Lum's convoy took flight.

Following him through the nightclub made Bill a little sour. Not only did he have to give up his precious blaster pistol at the door, he would've much preferred staying on the first floor and slumming with the two-bit gangs and gawking at the dancer girls, but business was business. It wasn't long before they were seated, and Lum was ready to make his approval. The auction would begin soon, so Bill made it quick. He reached into his duster jacket and pulled out a datapad, "Here is the details to my ship, the Akira's Star. Towards the bottom of the page, I've outlined a few engagements she participated in." he said. Lumsoch responded with a silent nod and skimmed the information presented to him. Finally, he opened up another open tab on the datapad, the pertinent contract. He put his biological and ocular 'finger'print. Lumsoch returned the datapad to Bill, and Bill put in his own fingerprints. The contract was signed.

Bill signaled to his crew to begin preparations. Although the auction had not yet started, it was a very closed affair, and Bill would not be able to leave until it was finished. Hopefully he would get to see a little bit of a show as he waited through the long negotiation in which he had no play.

[member="Helion'Nuruodo"] | [member="Desmond Carter"] | [member="Araya"]​

 

[Desmond Carter]

They were making progress. With each tug of the rope the magnetic 'hook' climbed further up the building. Nearly invisible to the world below they had the element of surprise. Each floor was quieter than the last, until at last the pair reached the seventh floor. Peering in through a tinted window he made discerned the movements of a rather large security droid, making the rounds by crossing the corridors. While he could not make out the specifics of the weapons it carried he knew it was a big one.

With a nod to Kal the Staff Sergeant drew out a thermal cutter and began to slice through the glass. It was silent, though clearly visible. As the glass melted he placed his hand upon the center and applied pressure to the bottom half of the cut so that it would fall into the waiting grasp of Kal. This was their only logical way in, without gunning through the whole building.

"We're about to make entry," he called on the commlink before leading the way, carbine in hand. Climbing through the hole he disconnected his rigging from the magnetic hook, leaving the rope to dangle by the window before assisting the Hapan. Once inside Kal leaned the glass against a wall as he drew a droid popper, flashing a toothy grin towards Carter who only sighed, yet nodded.

They waited for the machine cycle its patrol once more.

[member="Helion'Nuruodo"] | [member="Araya"] | [member="Bill Kerkov"]

 

[Helion'Nuruodo]

[SIZE=12pt]Wraith withdrew his datapad and checked the security feed on the sixth floor. It appeared to be another cantina, albeit the dancers were far more exotic and the gangster a little bit more rough. It appeared there were three prominent gangs on the sixth floor. Lumsoch’s and the other two unknown… Wraith quickly devised a plan to deal with these men and get back up to the eighth floor. Sliding the datapad back into his pocket, wraith prepared to head up the stairs. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]He kept his gun folded into it’s briefcase form, but he was always ready to extend it into it’s piece with the press of a button. He headed up the stairs and was immediately stopped by two guards. Lumsoch’s men, perfect. He flashed them his badge and they nodded him threw. He entered the club and spied the lead gangster watching a buxom Twi’lek perform a belly dance. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]While the first floor was rambunctious this one seemed eerily calm...[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Piles of spice and credits were placed on booths, as the men played cards or showed off their small fortunes. All of them appeared somewhat scared or sharper than your average spacer. It was likely they were lieutenants or captains. Anyone of them would do, but Wraith wanted to be sure. He approached Lumsoch’s captain and whispered within his ear. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Your men are causing a scene down stairs, get a hold of them,” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]He nodded and said something in huttese, Wraith didn’t quite understand. But, he needn’t as the captain stood from his chair and rallied his men. Almost all of them went into the elevator, and none questioned when Wraith discreetly grabbed hold the captain’s jacket. He prepared to leave, but as he walked past a booth an arm shot out and grabbed hold his hand. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Who’s jacket is that?” A gruff baritone voice asked from the shadows of the booth.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Wraith responded quickly “I’m delivering it to the captain,” He finished with a feigned alliance spacer drawl.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]The man's silhouette merely nodded. He stood from the booth and revealed himself to be a Mandalorian. Wraith could tell based on the clan patch sewed into his jacket. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“I’ll come with you,” He spoke again and Wraith merely nodded as a bead of sweat began to cascade down his forehead. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]They exited into the stairwell hall and Wraith was happy to see neither guard was present. But, he knew he only had a few precious minutes till they returned. He pressed the button on his gun and spun round lightning fast, but the Mandalorian was faster. He grabbed hold the gun and threw it upwards. Then with a wide left swing he punched Wraith in the face. He went spinning to the floor and his gun spiraled out of his hand. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]But, Wraith was not done yet, Wraith hopped too and whilst crouched made a wide sweep with his leg to knock the man off his feet. He fell to the ground with a slight thud and Wraith raced for his gun., almost tripping along the way. Wraith picked up his piece, spun round, and found the man standing now, with a blaster pistol drawn...[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt][member="Desmond Carter"][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt][member="Bill Kerkov"][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt][member="Araya"][/SIZE]

 

[Dezoti]

There was a loud crack from behind the Mandalorian [member="Helion'Nuruodo"] was facing. The man fell flat, bleeding from the base of his skull as a tastefully dressed Chiss stood behind him with her silenced heavy blaster in hand. A frown settled on the woman's lips as she stared down her ally. "Come now Wraith, have you gotten slow on the draw?" Blackout, as she was called within their squad, gave him a friendly smile for a brief moment before holstering her pistol and hooking an arm under the deceased Mando.

"Help me get the body out of here. We're still a ways from Lumsoch, and we don't want to get found out."

 

[Desmond Carter]

The creaking of each step the sentry droid gave was a dead giveaway as to its location. Giving a slight nod to Kal the two popped out from behind cover. Kal tossed the Doid Popper in an underhanded fashion, letting crack against the ground before letting out an electrical pop. Visible electricity ran through the droid's frame as the lights which marked it as active flickered incessantly. Then it let out a 'pop' as its internals fried. Yet before it could come crashing down the commando dived forward and caught the heavy robot with his hands and began to drag it to the window they had entered from. With the assistance of Kal the two of them quickly tossed it out, letting it crash against the duracrete pavement.

With a subtle nod to the other the two soldiers began to draw their weapons. Their carbines were equipped with silencers, effective though could never truly silence the sound of combustion of solid projectiles. Loaded and ready they moved their way towards the next flight of stairs, keen eyes and a pair of goggles checking every corner and hallway. Surprisingly these stairs were not guarded allow them to rise to the next level. The sound of music and business blasted through their eardrums as they hid behind two separate planters. The elevators across from the room though had a set of four guards, two for each door, each armed to the teeth with blasters.

"I need a moment to think. If we fire now we'll draw their attention," he whispered to Kal who watched the stairwell. Carter's mind poured over the possibilities, trying to formulate a bold plan...

[member="Helion'Nuruodo"]
[member="Bill Kerkov"]
[member="Araya"]
[member="Dezoti"]

 

[William Kerkov Jr.]

Bill squirmed and wiggled in his seat. He did not want to be here at all. Bill wanted to be on his ship, making preparations for the convoy escort mission. At first, he had hoped that this auction would at least have the products on display, but the women being sold did not wear anything revealing or arousing. So Bill just sat in his uncomfortable chair with a big frown on his face. He went over things in his head. His ship wasn't in need of anything, the crew was all rounded up and on the ship, all they needed was him to get out of that boring event.

A small disturbance caught Bill's ear, but he ignored it. All sorts of things happened on the streets of this hellhole, it was easy to pass off the slight crash as white noice happening in the scummy alley ways of The Smuggler's Moon.

[member="Desmond Carter"]
[member="Dezoti"]
[member="Helion'Nuruodo"]
[member="Araya"]