Independence Day (Royal House of Alderaan vs Mandalorian Clans of Alderaan)

[Rashae]

Doctor Rashae was in truth moved that the Princess would consider her for something in Alderaan. The thought of her family came to mind. Those greedy, arrogant, shallow persons that was her blood, yet would they not find this to be most auspicious? They would snag this medal on the reputation of the Lovous name and try to wrangle and advantage. No, she wouldn't breath a word to them. Not like they had spoken to her since her troubles that she got herself out of with some help from strangers. That was the satire of it all. Complete strangers and outcasts themselves, the republic and John Ash, saved her from more than they would ever know.

“I look forward to taking that conversation to a future meeting. I believe I have room in my schedule for consultation work. “ As she acknowledged Lord Vereen's words. Which caused her to be even more curious. What made Rashae different was she didn't play the politics. She understood them to a degree, but she didn't play them. Calculating and mapping an entire humanoid genome was easier than sifting through politics. She hated them, but found herself more and more involved in them.

HK-36 had acknowledged her words and declined for now. There was a nod from the Doctor. “I will have them on standby if you of a need. “ His words to John she inwardly cringed at the challenge the sentient droid threw into his face. That was before the crazy droid jumped out of the window!!. The poor doctor ran over to the window wondering what madness this was !! The stinker of a droid deployed rocket jets of some kind somewhere. There was a frustrated huff a bit. “This rate I'm going to need a cardiac monitor. “

There slipped the sarcastic wit of the icy doctor. “I beg your pardon, Your Highness, my lord. “ As she apologized for breaking formality. “The Lord Protector is surprising it seems. “ There was that lovely polite smile.

The Doctor was wondering what was keeping Chancellor's Thorne's ship or ships. Likely the Admiral or one of them would insist on an escort as he had done Rashae. That insufferable windbag of a.. well there was a few things the ice princess could say about that particular Admiral but none of it was lady like.

“I would call that a win, your Highness. Small victories build into larger ones. “ In response to Faith seeing that Alderaan's Sovereignty was not being contested. Draco affirmed this as well.

Doctor Rashae knew not a soul on the Galactic Alliance. Some of the republic military and minor officials have said stories about them. Rashae had a habit of determining her own mind about things. She would wait to meet one before making a decision on her position with the Galactic Alliance.




[member="John Ash"] [member="Nicolas Thorne"] [member="Faith Organa"] [member="Draco Vereen"] [member="HK-36"]

 

[Neesa]

[member="Tai Fa"]

"Very droll," Neesa replied to what she perceived as a threat. There was an upward curl of the right corner of her thin lips. She put a few more steps between herself and the avian.

"The arm won't start working again until you remove the sliver of metal wedged into his forearm. If you want to be certain just take the power core out of it."

She circled around such that she faced them both head on again. "I need to go and steal an awful lot of weapons. I need him not to end up with the Bones describing what I was after."

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Neesa"]

With a hiss the power core disappeared from its socket once Lord Fa's wing brushed past it.

"He will not." The Thirriken responded resolutely. "Within the hour he will be gone."

Perhaps there was a different path for Yan to be found, but it would have to be done after. After the Directorate was already shattered, after the Broken Bones' allegiance shifted, after the weapon shipment was taken and the warehouse taken over. Right now the man was a liability and would need to disappear.

One more look was spend on the unconscious man, before the Thirriken gestured with his wing for Neesa to follow. As he passed one of the crates, the power core was dispensed inside of it. They were not returning the way they came, instead they would move deeper into the underground facility.

Two passage ways -- once again Neesa would not feel any more lifesigns, the warehouse seemed to be entirely empty, besides the two of them and the unconscious thug.

"We will need to move quickly." The Sith finally spoke again. "A concentrated attack from two sides, disabling them in surprise, before they can scatter."

"Trust is not necessary between us, but determination is, do we have an accord for now?"

 

[Neesa]

[member="Tai Fa"]

Except that Neesa didn't follow. She stood her ground. Sometimes even when time was precious a few seconds could be spared. She had followed what appeared to be the preordained plans of this one so far, but it was beginning to feel like walking deeper into the maze.

"Speak plainly. What do want and what do you offer?"

It wasn't necessary to mention that she didn't follow what he was saying. She didn't actually know what the word accord meant in the context.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Neesa"]

The Thirriken turned slightly, seeing her still standing there.

Had he not been clear in his intent already? But Lord Fa was a patient bird, if one with a tight timetable to follow, this one had not exactly been part of his plans when they were being formed on his ship. It was supposed to be simple. A single detachment of Broken Bones with Yan in tow, kill them all, capture Yan and interrogate him, until he let go of their main place of operations, the one where the shipments of weapons were residing right now. The place where an overseer would be, a representative of the Directorate, who acted as a link between Yan and his masters.

It would be that Overseer who could tip the veil, if they managed to get their wings on him.

"I aim to break the Directorate, sweep their operations and establish control." All of this said in a calm, measured voice like they were discussing the weather instead of usurping a well-entrenched criminal syndicate. But the Thirriken seemed confident of his chances.

"What I offer?" He had not been aware this was a business transaction, but Lord Fa was a business bird first and foremost. "You do not wish those shipments to arrive to their destination. Not now, not ever."

A thought entered his mind.

"I could supply you at a discount instead in return for your assistance in this matter."

Fa would have offered money plainly, but in his experience credits or crystals or other monetary gains were always part of the equation anyway. So, why attempt to cheapen the atmosphere by bringing them up?

 

[Neesa]

[member="Tai Fa"]

"Hmm," she mouthed, looking away from him. She hadn't been attempting to enter a genuine business transaction, just to understand what it was he was saying. Neesa had no interest in the operations of the Directorate. She only wanted to break their ties with Siedra's operations. In truth completely ending their hold had the same effect. In fact it likely provided a more permanent solution.

"I can be here for a month and ensure they are swept away. I've dealt with worse. But I'm doing this because I have a rival dealing with them. If you were to start doing business with her as soon I left it would undo everything I've worked for."

She had been asking for a simple clarification without admitting that she didn't follow what he was suggesting. It seemed, however, that had prompted a slightly more interesting offer.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Neesa"]

Lord Fa wondered if he had misjudged her.

But such musings were too late as he had already offered the offer at hand and let her know why he was here in the first place. Now it was either cooperation or one of them not leaving this facility in one piece. Truthfully, the Thirriken was a soul who did not enjoy needless conflict for no reason at all.

Compromises was something he worked best with.

"If all works out well, I am prepared to cut this rival out of the equation." Lord Fa finally added to the mix. "It won't prevent her from buying her wares from others, but you will have one supplier added and she will have one less."

"Agreeable?"

Perhaps there was a better deal to be made with this rival of hers.

But the rival was not here and she was, if Lord Fa was anything it was loyal to those who showed their own loyalty in return. If this assassin managed to aid him in the dismantling of the Directorate, then he would not simply betray her for some additional monetary gains.

That was not a good business practice, after all.

 

[Neesa]

[member="Tai Fa"]

Neesa set out for the exit from the warehouse, sparing the unconscious cyborg one last glance. He had an interesting future ahead it seemed, but it was unlikely to be a pleasant one. Still, it was longer than the future Neesa had planned for him. She doubted he would thank her for the extension.

“Agreed,” she said only when she drew alongside her new supplier. She had committed herself to more work, but there was potentially a greater reward now available. Buying weapons in large quantities wasn't always easy. Doing it through more legal channels would have drawn too much attention to what was going on.

---

A docking pylon for light freighters provided a suitable spot to overlook the warehouse. There were a handful of security guards it seemed, but they were keeping out of sight. Even through a small spotting scope Neesa could not see any weapons. They likely had the concealable heavy blaster pistols and light repeaters the hit squads had been using.

“No one can sound a warning,” Neesa said. “We need the guards down within just a few minutes and then a transport to move the weapons within the following thirty.”

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Neesa"]

"My men are too far away to provide immediate reinforcement, but transportation will be waiting for us." Lord Fa responded while studying the warehouse from afar. His eyes were better than that of the usual humanoid, not quite as exceptional as some sentient species were blessed with, but quite good either way. He saw practically the same thing as Neesa and it concerned him a little bit, they had the cover of night and there was a wind blowing.

That would provide them a cushion, if one of them was isolated and got a blaster shot out, before they could incapacitate him.

"Unless you have any other concerns, I will make my way to the other side." The Thirriken finally said, it would be easier for him to get there, considering he could glide.

"It will be easier if we approach this from two sides and hit them at the same time."

For a moment he looked at the Sith next to him, ensuring that she did not have any suggestions or ideas. If this was not the case and she simply nodded, then the Lord Fa would take a moment for himself. Eyes closed and the Force gathered, before he pushed himself off and rode the winds.

It was graceful and interestingly enough he somehow blended into the air.

 

[Neesa]

[member="Tai Fa"]

She could feel it. Like an itch. Neesa had come in low and was pressed against the outside wall in a blind spot for the cameras. There was a guard just on the other side. He wanted something desperately. Once Neesa realised what it was she applied a modicum of pressure through the Force.

She felt him relent. The door clicked open a few seconds later as he headed out for a smoke. Risking being seen on the cameras she darted from the shadows before he could step away from the door. As her left foot stopped the door shutting, preventing the alarm from activating again, she wrapped her left arm around his neck. Instead of a smoke he received a knife sliding against the base of his sternum and into his lungs before he could cry out.

The assassin dragged him back through the door. Even as he continued to gasp for air she hauled him onto a shelf next to some crates of weapons. One more strike and he was out to rest.

Her next target was walking the platform above. He was visible to several other guards making the next kill the most difficult.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Neesa"]

The wind was cold and dragged against his black robes, but Lord Fa knew the currents like the back of his wing.

So many things changed across different planets, but the air currents, they mostly stayed the same as long as the habitat was similar to one another. It was as easy as breathing for him, to glide far, while using the rises in heat vents to push himself upwards whenever it was necessary - whenever he got too low.

Only two minutes passed and with some minuscule adjustments he managed to get on the other side.

In the meantime he had been able to get a better look at the warehouse ahead. On the roof - outside of view - there was a guard as well, his armor blackened and impossible to see, unless your angle was just right. They had not considered a foe from above, at least not one which they wouldn't be immediately aware of.

Already he had noted a window, slightly left ajar, but the guard stood right next to it. A sharp angle to the left, his blade hidden in the shadow, Lord Fa came in from his blind spot; his blade stabbing clean into the neck while a wing shoved itself onto the mouth.

Death came instantaneously.

With a sickly sound the blade was retracted, the body pulled out of view, before the Thirriken entered the warehouse through the window.

 

[Neesa]

[member="Tai Fa"]

The risk was clear: if any of them sounded the alarm the Broken Bones would send more forces to the warehouse and they would not be able to interrupt the transaction schedules for the small hours of the morning, let alone steal the weapons. The fact that her own life was not at risk influenced her decision.

She clambered up several crates. She turned her back to them, heels on one and her left hand gripping the lip of another tightly. She drew a blade and pulled herself down. Muscles coiled tight as she prepared herself. She snapped up on one smooth motion.

Feet touched the railings lightly and she stepped down onto the walkway. The guard turned as she struck, the blade cutting through his neck several inches deep. A blood stained hand grasped his vest as he fell. She shoved his body into the corner and then stepped up onto the railing. Over and down she went to land behind the next guard. She started to trace his steps as he moved closer towards a side office she could stash the body in.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Neesa"]

There were shouts down below in the storage facility.

Not the shouts of battle, but the yelling of overseers telling their underlings to get their crap together. He could feel Neesa somewhere on the edge of his awareness. There was a sense of energy flowing through her - the killing had already started by the feel of it, but they needed to act even quicker. If only a single body got discovered and the alarm was raised?

This entire operation was at risk.

The Broken Bones would go underground, the Directorate would shift up its process to avoid detection and Lord Fa would be where he had started. No, that was not an acceptable outcome to him.

From the eagle's perch he could oversee most of the large storage room. Crates were busy being moved from one side to the other, in preparation for a move out of the facility itself. Already the Thirriken saw one man who did not seem to belong - he was on the sidelines, not shouting, but also not being shouted at. Dressed to impress and with a datapad in his hand, he was simply observing the actions by the gang. He would have to be taken alive, but the rest... the rest was another question entirely. Once again Lord Fa pulled at the tether of the Force, clouding his silhouette in smoky outlines of gray and black, before he pushed himself off one of the pallet racks.

He drifted lazily, before landing softly on another pallet rack- his claws dug into the durasteel frame, giving himself a better view. In his head Tai was already making a mental map of the area and the movements of the guards and workers.

It was too open to take it slow and hide the bodies one by one - either he managed to get into a flow and kill them one after another, before discovery occurred... or they would realize one of theirs was gone and sound the alarm.

Difficult situation indeed.

 

[Neesa]

[member="Tai Fa"]

He struggled as she held him. Slender arms held his neck in a remarkably vice-like grip. He was heavy, so she called on the Force to take some of his weight so she could edge towards the corner of the room and out of sight.

As he struggles waned she started to lower his body. She released him and slid his body underneath a table with the wave of her hand.

Voices reached her from outside the corner office. It was little more than a shack built into the wall of the warehouse. It seemed it also functioned as the staff kitchen.

Neesa darted to the wall that faced the inside of the warehouse and ducked beneath the windows. She could feel it now. The Force almost humming in anticipation. Four rows of racks within the warehouse. It was time to move with haste rather than caution.

She pressed herself against the wall as two workers made her life easy by walking into the office. Very slowly, she drew a blaster. The force guided her aim. Two quick shots and both fell, dart holes burned into the backs of their heads. Even that noise seemed too much to her despite the noise of the warehouse itself. She kept the blaster in hand and drew several throwing knives coated in powerful sith toxins in the other. Boldly she stepped out of the office and prepared to finish the job.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Neesa"]

Lord Fa believed there were points within the Force that spoke of change and momentum.

If you moved just right, within the span of seven breaths when that moment came, you could change the entire situation. Turn it around, push it off the rails and onto a path that was more to your liking. But if you lulled yourself into sleep, deafened against opportunity... only failure would be yours. But the Thirriken believed and as he felt the Darkside humming in anticipation he knew the moment was close.

Finally it came, then.

Neesa stepped out of the office, her first knife darting out and taking one of the employees out of the equation. This changed the map for Lord Fa, who suddenly saw a path opening itself for him.

His frame flashed out of the racks, long blade in tow as he swooped in from a height and taking out the first thug from behind. His long edge cut straight through the back, before slicing up and into the neck. But the Thirriken did not pay attention, his mind was already moving forward to the next target - there were six more mooks with these two dispatched.

Claws dug into the corpse, swirling around him and using his momentum for his own advantage, again a push forward and Tai's blade coming down.

Five.

 

[Neesa]

[member="Tai Fa"]

Neesa had long learned that these things ended with a whimper, not a bang. If the job had been done correctly the last few moments would be anticlimactically simple. Months of preparation could be finished off by placing a single droplet in the right cup and walking away.

She strode into the next alley between racks. Her left arm swung up, fist opening. Two men didn't even raise their weapons but opened their mouths to question her presence. The words never left their lips as blades thudded home and powerful neurotoxins did the rest. It wasn't a pleasant death. Every muscle seized in an instant and they would essentially asphyxiate themselves.

She walked down the empty aisle and came to a halt half way down. She raised the pistol and pointed it through the shelves towards the next aisle over. Neesa pulled the trigger the instant a head appeared between two crates.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Neesa"]

A few minutes later it was over and everyone was either dead or whimpering on the edge of Lord Fa's blade.

The spectacled humanoid with the datapad - now laying on the ground next to him - did not seem as calm and collected as he had been a few minutes ago. This was probably not surprising, considering they had just executed all his protectors within the span of five minutes and did not seem overly tired because of it. For a moment Tai wished [member="Maleagant"] was here - his mentalism would have been handy with this one.

But no matter.

They had more important things to do right now. With the side-glance of his free wing he knocked the man out and then got out his comm device, just as Neesa approached he made contact with his team.

"We are done here. Let's not dally."

Then from the comms his attention went to Neesa.

"We will move quick and extract ourselves before the new shift can arrive."

 

[Neesa]

[member="Tai Fa"]

Neesa moved between the bodies. It was always prudent to ensure your targets were permanently down. She'd once nearly been killed by a massassi she had assumed dead. It had roused itself despite the blaster bolts it had taken a few minutes earlier and drawn a weapon. The kills had all been as clean as they had seemed.

She looked up at the crates of equipment around them. There were small to medium arms. The warning labels on some seemed to suggest explosives too.

"Do you have somewhere to hold all this? We'll need to arrange the transport off world."

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Neesa"]

One of the crates had been pried open to take a look inside.

Czerka Arms, some of the old gear produced back before Browncoat took over. But it was good quality and military-grade, which was a rarity when you were dealing with criminals. Clearly the Bones had their ducks in a row or they wouldn't have been able to get their hands on this kind of merchandise.

Especially not after Czerka had been absorbed and most of their production followed suit.

"Yes." The Thirriken responded shortly after studying one of the rifles for a brief second. "How fast do you need these things to be moved off-world?"

He could keep them secured for a few days, but the longer they stayed in one place, the more they would start drawing attention and the more assets he would have to move towards security.

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Arieth zh'Vranthi"] | [member="Rashae"] | [member="Draco Vereen"]​

​

Just as quickly as the Lord Protector had left Ana quietly intruded handing a datapad to Faith. Her soft brown eyes quickly read the message looking up to her guests and husband she smiled, "The Galactic Alliance is sending a representative, this is good news." Faith was pleased, "Ana be sure to tell the Queen." The petite blonde nodded, "A return message majesty."

Faith began tapping out a response to the Ambassador

//Ambassador zh'Vranthi

The Royal House of Alderaan always has time for friends and allies. Please do come Alderaan if you provide your ship ident code, I will provide to the Navy that protects us during this most auspicious time.

Respectfully,

Faith Organa, Princess of Alderaan.//

Then she looked to the Dr and Draco, "I actually am not thinking of just consult work Dr. Lovous I am thinking a position that serves Alderaan." She looked at Draco, "My Aunt is growing age, and though she continues to mean well and tries to put Alderaan first she is overwhelmed with responsibilities. We need someone who can put Alderaan on a higher priority." As much as she loved her Tia she had to put her home world first.

She smiled then, "something for you think about Dr. or we can talk while we wait for further news, and more visitors"