Just Your Typical Operation (Pm to Join)

[Lierra Umdal]

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Emptiness. It was a wonder that someone could feel such a thing in such a massive compound filled with people going about their day, machines buzzing and whirring, and conversations being shouted out at every corner. Yet, as Lierra sat in a chair within her private office, glass in hand, she felt a sort of gaping nothingness within her. From Circe...to Vitor...to others, her superiors seemed to change post at every moment, without any notice given. What had once began as a high-intensity industrial project had now fallen into disrepair, at least from her angle of the world. Decreased communication from other sites and her commanding officers eventually led to her seemingly being cut off from the rest of the corporation, as well as her only allies. She had yet to speak to either Gray Raxis or James Justice since they had last met with the coming events. Feelings of loneliness and fear coupled with denial only seemed to contribute towards her stagnant actions.

However, today was a normal day as any other. She would turn her head to a doctor holding a datapad, waiting for her to view one of the latest schematics. Whatever came out of the man's mouth only seemed to come out as a blurred, white noise to her. But still, Lierra would smile, take the data pad and give her approval on the matter in a typical manner, going through the motions.

Tapping her whine glass incessantly, she looked out through the massive window of the room, overlooking the rest of the facility far below. Here, she could monitor the workers' behavior, as robotic arms seemed to extend across the area in every which way, in and out of walls, in order to make further progress on the assembly lines. Like clockwork. She would let out a heavy sigh, as a screen to her left began to light up in its full glory. A big, dumb, smiling face staring into her eyes.

"The new shipment of material is scheduled to arrive on time, Madame."

[member="Asharad Graush"] [member="Jude Falkrowe"] [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"] [member="Sentiri"] [member="Thomas Kyrel"]​

 

[Asharad Graush]

A'sharad's starship came out of hyperspace and immediately set a course for the planet below. Vitiate, had a meeting with a droid manufacturing company. However, this company operated within Galactic Alliance Space. Which was specifically the reason why he didn't come out of hyperspace with the White Wolves in tow. Regardless, the Sith Knight's pilot was descending to the planet after processing credentials as a neutral company to the authorities of the planet.

"Contact [member="Lierra Umdal"]'s people. Let them know that their... Appointment has arrived," A'sharad said.

On that shuttle were a handful of operatives and actual scientists, the Sith General had come to learn. If only to make things extra legitimate.

The mission parameters revolved around securing one of the head scientists. Also, not to kill anyone. Already in the system was a Daisya Infiltrator. Cloaked and awaiting evacuation for the team once the extraction was completed.

[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"], [member="Jude Falkrowe"], [member="Thomas Kyrel"]

 

[Zef Halo]

Part of the team was none other than Jude Falkrowe posing as an industrialist. Again. With a suit and tie, glasses and a neatly tight hair, he stood in his own quarters aboard the shuttle exploring various information about the mission on his wrist datapad. Aboard the shuttle and the man that would stand out in the meetings and talks was [member="Asharad Graush"]. A very familiar face to Jude as it was the then-High Colonel that had rescued him in the agent's final steps for survival from the destruction of the Omega.

The FOSB was not afraid to send Jude with the man, they had already suspected that the General could very well assume that Jude was an intelligence operative due to their meeting on the Omega crisis. On the contrary, they were happier that they had to send someone already known to the man and preserve other 'faces' if internal investigation was called, for some reason, upon the General.

They had barely talked on their voyage here, with Graush being rather direct to the point and not a man of pointless chatter, while Jude, who was renown for his small talk, preferred not to engage in conversations that would more than likely lead to the Omega crisis. He was still recuperating quite slowly from the experiences he had on the Omega. The agent would do by far better away from anything related to that catastrophe. Now, he was undercover. Again. On a mission to 'extract' a valuable scientist in Galactic Alliance space.

How could that go wrong ?

[member="Asharad Graush"] | [member="Lierra Umdal"] | [member="Thomas Kyrel"] | [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]​

 

[Jaster Awaud]

[member="Jude Falkrowe"] | [member="Asharad Graush"] | [member="Lierra Umdal"] | [member="Thomas Kyrel"]

Jaster was just along for the ride, these Imperials had requested Jasters presence as he was a well respected Geneticist in the science community. He had spend years getting his Ph.D in genetic engineering and M.D. Chemistry, and now he was reduced to. Itching but a poster boy at the bec and call of the Imperials. As a Mandalorian he was ashamed of it, but he took the bullet for the people he swore to protect. He wasn't afraid of the Imperials, but they had the capability to make him and his people very uncomfortable under their rule. So he did as they were told and were given a mission to report anything of significance to the Minister of Science and the Grand Moff.

There was suppose to be a scientist of note here as well and Jaster was to try and convince the scientist to come quietly. He, like many other scientists like him, was not great at talking to others, but maybe this would be different.

He had sat quietly in the ship the whole way, these Imperials were not known to him and had little intention to befriend any of them. They were not noteworthy in his book as he was the Alor of the Awaud Clan and would only respect a warrior with honor and prestige. He had not heard of the people he was working with now, thus they were just people he was bundled with. He would do his job and go home where the Imperials would more then likely make him do another job.

 

[Kyrel Ren]

[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"],[member="Jude Falkrowe"],[member="Asharad Graush"],[member="Lierra Umdal"].

Thomas was along for the ride like anyone else only he had volunteered,only after recently becoming a disciple of Ren hoping to prove his quality to the great order of mystics that ruled their great empire. He had been volunteering to not only make a reputation for himself as a mysterious warrior covered in black armor,and would one day say the new Vader,but to also continue his growing skills of the dark side. He had only mastered the basics such a telekinesis and sense even picking up force speed to increase the movements of his heavy armor. The problem was is that he was new with his powers so just because he had learned them he was no need powerful especially that to the standards of what Vader was so he needed to get out there to get some experience,and get it he would.

When he had climbed aboard he did not know most of the people along the ride the only one he may have heard of was the high officer [member="Asharad Graush"] who he had not said a word to since he had climbed aboard preferring to not speak at least for a while as well as the rest of the team. He had heard of their mission,it was to capture a science and convince the scientist to join the First Order. The problem was that where they were going it was in Galactic Alliance territory which meant that the operation had to be clean and simple,and not to cause any transgression that would alert the local government to there presence.

Kyrel with his large and intimidating figure was to be posing as a new Security detail for the facility making it seem as if he was a new model of droid,what kyrel didn't like however was to not be able to wield his newly constructed lightsaber against any guards since it would make there mission there that much difficult,for this he his saber on the back of his suit hidden by the long dark cape covering it. He sat quietly on ship waiting for any orders to be given,underneath his mask he was grinning for this mission even if he couldn't wield his saber he could at least see this mission through.

 

[Lierra Umdal]

"Visitors are approaching, madame. Representatives from the corporation "Vitate."

"Vitate? I didn't schedule any operations with them."

"Forgive me, madame Umdal. I had the time scheduled, for business purposes to your benefit. They currently await your approval to enter."

A slight chuckle and remark from under her breath would be heard. She stared at the face from her chair and continued: "Very well then, Theta. Answer their hails and grant them access. Open the doors and inform them I'll be down shortly." She would say this, all while getting up from her chair and walking towards the exit of her personal office, as if it were a mundane routine of sorts.

"As you wish, madame."

After the leaving the room, two orange colored enforcer droids posted up against the wall would turn and follow closely behind. She would walk along a hallway to a lift, pressing a button and entering along with the droids. As they found themselves on the ground floor, she would walk towards the front of the facility checking progress along the way. Assembly lines with workers tired from their labor continued to finess products, under observation from Enforcers beside them as well as upon the catwalks above. Watching as hand after hand grabbed different tools and swept dripped from their brows, she did feel sorry for the lot. Yet she was reluctant to change the guidelines in place for fear of relinquishing her hold on the facility. And so, she would force herself to look on, as droids continued watching the workers and at times shoving them, commanding to continue the day's task at hand.

Two more from the assembly lines would follow at her sides. She would watch as the master doors of the facility would slide open with an unmistakable sound familiar to those surrounding the area. She would wait patiently at the entrance, as a droid beside her would hand her a small data pad. "Madame Umdal."

Taking the pad, she would remember her duty to fulfill with such a predisposed meeting. "Oh, thank you." Closing her eyes, she took a moment to breathe in heavily and out, preparing to fully turn on her "corporate" personality in the presence of such of company.

[member="Asharad Graush"] [member="Jude Falkrowe"] [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"] [member="Thomas Kyrel"]​

 

[Pharazon Draken]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Lieutenant Pharazon Draken and Sergeant Remus Cain had sat silently with ramrod straight backs during the entirety of the shuttle flight down to the planet. Gone were the two Stormtrooper’s iconic white armour and imposing helmets, replaced with darkly coloured widely available armour and fatigues. Their faces were covered with helmet’s popular with security personnel, bodyguards, and weekend mercenaries of the core and mid rim, unimposing and utilitarian.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Pharazon recognised no one in the shuttle besides Cain, had been told next to nothing about the mission, and had been told to keep his mouth shut, follow orders, and not ask questions. The only thing he had been told is that this was some sort of high-level black op target extraction mission and that he and Sergeant Cain were needed to provide tactical support in the event the mission encountered difficulties. When the FOSB and Captain Vortigern commanded Pharazon obeyed, lest he be executed for disobedience or throw away the salvation the First Order had given him. He could not help but have a cold feeling about two of the other men on the shuttle with them, one some kind of general, the other in the attire of a security officer like them. Shaking his head slightly to disperse the feeling but he could not, as he occasionally could not with his ‘feelings’, and so he once again straightened his back and tried to focus on his role in the operation.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]This is just perfect Pharazon mused idly as he checked his rifle and com-links with Cain and the other personnel on this black op.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]He was not used to the new rifle he had been given, but was competent with most weapons in general even if he did miss his F-11D. He checked the stock, the sight, the power pack, and the heft and feel of the weapon. He could only hope he would not need it, he had received strict orders in his FOSB briefing to only engage any enemy combatants as a last resort. They were to be somewhere deep in Alliance territory and trigger happy troopers would not be welcome.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“Cain” Pharazon whispered over a private com channel he had set up with his protege.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“I have come to rely on you, you are a good, strong, loyal, and charismatic man, almost as much as I am, but I must know what you think about all of this, protocol be damned to the mists”[/SIZE]

“To be perfectly honest with you Draken, I don’t know, I don’t like how we have not been told anything about the mission other than that our target is some kind of scientist, secrecy like this wouldn't fly in the Corps”[SIZE=14.6667px] Cain responded, voice concerned but level. Cain was always calm and reliable and was devoted to the Stormtrooper Corps, Pharazon knew this from personal experience and that was why he trusted him so much. It was why he recommended Cain as his second on this mission to Vortigern and the FOSB, this man could be developed, this man could succeed.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“I feel the same way Remus” He replied, keeping his voice low but familiar.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“But there is nothing that can be done about it, we serve, and I expect you to follow any and all orders I give, is that understood Sergeant” Pharazon said sternly, all part of the jocular pre-mission talk he and Cain always had in some form or another.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“Of course sir, I will operate with maximum efficiency sir” Cain replied, his smile evident in his voice. But, it was reassuring for Pharazon to have him hear the words, which is why he went through his varialbe charade of sternly reprimanding the Sergeant.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Pharazon and Cain prepared themselves as the shuttle sat down and the higher ups advanced the mission. They were ready for whatever would come and stood ready at the shuttle landing ramp, ready to being the charade.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.6667px][member="Lierra Umdal"][/SIZE]

 

[Lierra Umdal]

She would watch as the group clustered in and observed the factory space around them. Excited, she would greet each of the men individually and begin to display her work. She would gesture towards a hologram projector close by, projecting an image of the same bright, smiling face from before. The artificial intelligence would continue the conversation with some of the men, as the remainder would be addressed by Lierra. Motioning for a black service droid to attend them, she carefully ran her fingers through the body of the droid, speaking to the men. "Yes, and this is our latest model..."

She was then stopped by the sound of a voice coming through an ear piece. The looks of excitement and pleasure from her face subsided to a more concerned, uneasy frown as her fingers lowered from the com. The armed droids around her also began to appear more on edge, and moved about. Looking at her data pad, she would pause for a moment with heavy breaths accompanying the silence. She would then turn to face her clients once more with an uneasy tone. "So...what exactly did you come here for today?"

[member="Kyrel Ren"] [member="Pharazon Draken"] [member="BE-183"]​

 

[Pharazon Draken]

[SIZE=11pt]As Pharazon and Cain had disembarked from the shuttle, yet another important looking person that they did not know disembarked before them, and signalled for them to follow. Pharazon and Cain swiftly and expertly began to follow a few paces behind this rather well dressed man as he began to walk from the landing platform into the entrance to the facility of this mysterious scientist. Several other likely FOSB agents came along with them, some others dressed as security and others as business officials. Pharazon and Cain, along with the few other security clothed agents, stayed slightly back as the ‘officials’ were welcomed by the woman Pharazon could only conclude was their target. She was a scientist, seemed to be in charge, and knew how these droid prototypes worked. Pharazon began to take note of the factory surroundings, the location of droids and staff alike. As the front agents began to introduce themselves to this Lierra, Pharazon and the rest of the armed ‘guards’ began to slowly pan out in a line behind the talking ‘officials’ and this scientist. From all outward appearances they were just moving to get out of the way of any demonstration and the business discussion, however, they were moving to counter any identified threat and block off the exit to the landing pad.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The seemingly in charge agent Pharazon had followed early stepped up to this Lierra and began to introduce himself as others of the covert First Order operation conversed with the AI.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Hello my name is George Webb it is a pleasure to meet one with a mind such as yours, I am a representative of Vitate and would be delighted if you could show me this new droid you have been working on, a little demonstration perhaps?” The agent said warmly along with a smile. The name he had given was clearly false Pharazon knew, but they did not have to hold this charade for a long period of time anyway.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Pharazon watched, getting nervous that the armed droids seemed to be getting ready for something, as if they were suspicious. However, Pharazon knew that if he had to, he and the rest of the operation could snatch the scientist and fight their way out if necessary.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]So Pharazon decided to wait and watch, he knew the signal for when they were to grab her and run, and he knew when it would probably come. He was ready regardless of whether they could get the target clean or otherwise.[/SIZE]

[member="Lierra Umdal"]

 

[Lierra Umdal]

She would greet Webb and and continue the proposal as planned for some moments more, before being stopped. "And, as you can see here, the lower part of the torso contains suited armor proportional to it-" She was interrupted by a barely audible sound playing in her earpiece. "If you'll excuse me for a mere second, gentlemen." All that could be heard by the visitors was static, not knowing what was on the other side. She paused and smiled, listening, "Yes, I see... Well I don't think that-...." Her blissful smile slowly turned into a slight frown, and her eyes showed signs of panic, before returning to a neutral state. "I understand..." She then removed her hand from the ear piece and began to walk to the side, not looking towards her guests, speaking in a stoic, almost emotionless voice.

"So...Mr, Mr Webb, was it? What exactly were your intentions coming here? Tell me, do you take me for a fool?"

It was at that moment that every droid in the vicinity appeared to draw their firearms, aimed at the opposing group. Many of the enforcers appeared to speak in robotic tongues incomprehensible to others. Similarly, weapons from the visitors were drawn in response, resulting in an apparent standoff. Before any shots could be fired, loud beeping sounds could be heard, accompanied with the clunking of metal on the ground and an apparent shout. A thermal detonator. It was unsure exactly which side the device had come from in the chaos, but it had landed mere glances away from Lierra and the others. She could barely react before a droid rushed to the ground, throwing itself onto the bomb, while another seemingly slammed itself into Lierra, rushing her to the side and away from the impact.

For moments after, everything was a mere daze. She could only hear a loud ringing sound in both ears, and parts of her lower body and face appeared covered in dirt and shrapnel. Then came the shots. And the Shouting. She could barely see, as two orange mechanical hands grabbed her from her position of the ground and dragged her towards an elevator. Another droid punched the elevator button as another brought her behind its closing doors.

A distorted enforcer's voice could be heard. "Priority one, secure Madame Umdal deeper into the compound." "All forces fan out and assume combat formation and eliminate the targets." Back on the ground floor, enforcers ran towards walls for cover and many appeared to pile into groups, focusing their fire on the enemy. Bodies, both organic and mechanical appeared to fall.

For a lack of better words, chaos had begun.

[member="Pharazon Draken"]​

 

[Pharazon Draken]

[SIZE=11pt]The undercover and darkly armoured Lieutenant Pharazon and his protege Cain continued their vigil and watched silently as the intelligence agent who was going by the name of Webb carried on his charade with their target. From behind his face enclosing helmet, Pharazon watched the agent as he listened intently, nodded in approval when appropriate, and even asked pertinent technical questions about these apparent combat droids. He certainly takes his cover seriously [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]Pharazon mused idly as he kept his eyes crossing the massive facility. As his eyes lingered on the activated and very armed droids, he could not help but feel his muscles imperceptibly tensing, readying themselves for action perfectly as his Stormtrooper training had burned into his muscle and nervous memory. He could swear they were getting ready for something.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Webb spoke again, the sound filling Pharazon’s helmet speakers, “Yes, the lower armour does appear to be quite…” he fell silent as the scientist asked to be momentarily excused before adding, “Of course, take your time” before closing his mouth once again. Pharazon could see that though Webb was feigning disinterest, he was keeping an eye on the scientist, keeping himself like all other members of the operation ready for anything and the opportunity to seize the scientist that they were waiting for.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The scientist spoke, and Pharazon sighed internally, knowing what was about to happen as he waited to see how Webb would react. “I intend to inspect these creations of yours of course. I do not know what you have just been told but neither I or my associates appreciate your tone and accusations” Webb said firmly, tone noticeably colder than before. Pharazon, Cain, and the rest of the operatives readied themselves, moving closer to close ranks around Webb. Only moments later, however, seemingly every active droid in the facility raised their weapons against the Imperial operatives. A split second later Pharazon and the other darkly armoured guards had their own blasters raised and aimed with deadly intent at the droids and all other facility personnel. Even Webb had quickly drawn a blaster pistol from somewhere hidden on his person in the instant Pharazon had taken his eyes off of him. Not that it did him any good.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Seemingly only another moment later, a thermal detonator of unknown origin clattered to the floor with a metallic thunk very close to the scientist Umdal and Webb. Pharazon barked a warning over their encrypted comms and began to lunge forward in great strides toward Webb, but it was too late. Even though he did not order the detonator, nor had he seen who had thrown it, Imperial or otherwise, Pharazon knew it did not matter anyone. Immediately one of the now very active droids threw itself on the detonator, while another tackled and took the scientists away with it. Webb reacted extremely quickly, jumping away with reflexes honed by years of black ops and security bureau training, but it was not enough, and when the detonator exploded in an awe inspiring flare of deadly brilliance and a deafening roar, he was reduced to ashes. Pharazon was knocked back and onto his face.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Then came fire, blood, and the chaos that seemed to follow Pharazon no matter where he was or what he was doing. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Pharazon arose quickly, roaring out orders for the surviving Imperial operatives “Code black, secure the target and eliminate all resistance, extreme force authorised against the droids and all those that stand before us!” he yelled over his helmet communicator.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Finding any cover he could, he began firing in disciplined bursts of blaster fire at the now hostile droids, his protege Cain taking up position next to him, the two alternating between firing and returning to cover. Several Imperials dropped in smoking heaps, but the operatives spat back red death at the droids in turn, Pharazon himself reducing several of them to scrap with carefully aimed shots to exposed points in their armour.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Peeking over his makeshift cover, he saw many of the other scientists and flesh and blood personnel scatter in all directions, they are of little consequence… Where is she though? [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]He thought as he rapidly flipped his eyes left and right looking for her.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]There. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]In the arms of a droid. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Being bundled into an elevator, an elevator now closed and moving. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Feth.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Turning quickly to Cain, he formulated a plan so crazy that it just might work. He had no idea how he had thought of it so fast, but he had one of his feelings in that moment, the kind of feelings that he knew to trust. He knew [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]where she was being taken [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]somehow[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt].[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Cain, keep the operatives together, deal with the droids as best you can and give me covering fire. I need our exit and shuttle secure because if what I am planning works, we are going to need to get out of here fast!” as soon as the last word left his lips he leapt over the piece of machinery he had been using for cover and began running to another elevator near where the scientist had been forced into. He kept his head down and his powerful legs pumping fast as he ran, blasting a droid that leapt into his past with military expertise.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Cain called after him “[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]Dammit[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]! Sir! What are you doing, where are you going!?” but it was too late, and Cain knew it, so he issued several hand signals directing the other surviving operatives to better positions, closer to the exit near their escape shuttle, though one went down, head missing, as he tried to move. Cursing to himself mentally for the loss of life, he returned his attention to the threat at hand and blasted a droid through the head that was about to fill another Imperial with burning holes.[/SIZE]

Across the facility floor, Pharazon ran, dodging blaster bolts and leaping over machinery. His powerful body could not be stopped as he slammed into the elevator, thumping the door close button without looking. Quickly he looked at the floor selector buttons. I have no idea where she went [SIZE=11pt]but then, without [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]knowing[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] why, he pushed a button, knowing it was the right one. As the elevator began to move quickly, Pharazon checked his blaster rifle and stretched his muscles.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]By the mists, this feeling better be right… he thought silently, now separated from his fellow Imperial operatives, going after an unknown scientist for an unknown reason, deeper into a hostile compound.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt][member="Lierra Umdal"][/SIZE]

 

[Lierra Umdal]

Through several hallways, each with workers and droids alike running about, she had been carried. It was only when a final set of doors opened before her, that the situation could be assessed. The room was white and of a much more luxury appearance than the grimy, metal surroundings of the rest of the compound. It was a headquarters of sorts, filled with technological screens lit up with information, as well as a massive window overlooking the entire area and the fight below. As they entered the room, Lierra was moved into a chair, as another humanoid medical droid rushed to her aid, poking and inspecting each suspected damaged area.

"The landing pad is currently blocked by enemy forces, Madame. Risk level too high. I will call for additional reinforcements of local authorit-"

"No" she would shout back at the voice. "Emeritus has disintegrated long ago. If anyone were to find that we were still in operation of this facility they would shut us down immediately." She then looked back towards the chaos below. Droids ducking behind walls and firing rifle burst after burst. One even coming into close quarters with an enemy soldier. She watched as it managed to gain the upper hand, beating the man to the ground, then taking its fist and repeatedly bringing it down upon him until the screaming stopped. The cables of a catwalk unhinged and the structure began to fall, as two enforcers fell to the ground and a worker struggled to hold on. Her people had been caught in the crossfire.

"We...we will finish this ourselves. They're just mercenaries."

"Madame, there is a security breach on level 2, currently rising to our level via elevator." She looked towards a screen to see a small red dot blinking and rising on a map of sorts. Who could be crazy enough to follow us up here she thought.

"Theta, close the blast doors."

"Are you sure, Madame?"

"I know what I said."

"Closing blast doors..." A sudden screeching and grinding of metal and gears could be heard throughout the facility. A set of doors were seen closing ever so slowly. A few workers would scream and run inside the closing vault for its safety.

She would then motion to the enforcers in the room "You four, secure your position in the corridors. If whoever is coming up here makes it through that thing, eliminate it." Clutching rifles, the droids would turn and run deeper into the hallways. She was left with no one but the sound of her own artificial intelligence.

"Madame...would you like me to activate the Vanguards?"

"No. Not yet."

[member="Pharazon Draken"]​

 

[Pharazon Draken]

[SIZE=11pt]Adrenaline surged through Pharazon as the elevator continued to ascend to the second level and every bodily function associated with the fight or flight response cascaded through every vein and every nerve. His fingers tightened on his blaster rifle, knuckles white underneath his black armour and gloves. His muscles were engaged and ready, body prepared to move in any direction the moment the elevator door opened in response to anything that might be on the other side. Pharazon could feel the elevator slowing as it approached the second level of the facility, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes momentarily as he readied himself. He raised his blaster rifle to his shoulder and aimed it at the elevator doors as they began to open.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]---[/SIZE]​

​

[SIZE=11pt]Cain and the rest of the Imperial operatives had successfully formed up in a rough semi-circle formation guarding the access way to the landing pad and their shuttle and continued to exchange red death with the mechanical defenders of the scientist and her facility. They fired their blasters with brutal efficiency, and even faced some of the droids in close quarters combat. One Imperial was borne to the ground by a droid, and savagely beaten to death with cold mechanical hands, before it was reduced to melted slag by the combined automatic and brutally accurate fire of two vengeful operatives. The battle was fierce, savage, pitting flesh against machine. Some facility personnel were caught in the cross fire, though the Imperials were not directly firing upon any not firing upon them, their discipline growing more evident the more secure they became in their positions. As a catwalk fell, the Imperials expertly adjusted their positions if they needed to.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Though they only had access to limited cover, the brutal, grim, and military efficiency of the operatives was finally on display. The operatives, though a mix of Security Bureau agents, Stormtroopers on black ops secondment, and other Imperial personnel with mostly no history or experience with each other, all shared the qualities excellence in their respective fields. All the operatives seamlessly covered each other, setup overlapping fields of fire, prioritised targets, and ensured that no droids whether on the floor with them or on the catwalks above could assault them with impunity. They also attempted to ensure no droids could reach the elevators without opening themselves up to devastating fire, attempting to force the droids to counter them than pursue Pharazon.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Cain, though only a Staff Sergeant in a Stormtrooper platoon, continued to aid in the organisation of the operatives, while sending his own deadly fire against the droids. He could only hope that Draken could reach the scientist, or he knew that he and the other black ops members would need to assault the elevators, and with the sounds of closing blast doors echoing throughout the facility, he knew that by the time they got to the target their chances of success would be limited. They also would not be able to guarantee the security of the shuttle pad. I know Draken can do it, there is something about him… something beyond ordinary men[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] he thought as the Imperials held fast. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]---[/SIZE]​

​

[SIZE=11pt]The elevator door slid open and Pharazon stormed out, blaster streaking from left to right, checking each corner and space for hostile droids. Only to be confronted with a massive set of closed [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]blast doors. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]By the mists, nothing is ever simple, is it? [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]Pharazon mused darkly as he reassessed his situation. He had seen workers streaming through the doors in the instant before they had closed, but now he was here, alone. He could only hope that the rest of the Imperial operatives would keep droids away from the elevators. As he could not destroy them lest he be trapped on this level, unable to extract the target.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Surveying the room in more careful detail, his suspicious eyes darting in all directions. Pharazon took note of several security cameras, sound recorders, and other pieces of monitoring equipment, some hidden, some not. He had experience with recognising these things, with the subterfuge of the Hapan Royal Court in which he was raised legendary for its deadly nature, and from his experiences working for the Hutts and other criminal elements during his time as a fugitive on the Outer Rim. Without a second thought, he blasted each of them in turn. They knew he was here and on this level to be sure, but the less they knew about his precise movements and methods the better.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Striding quickly over to the blast doors, he quickly sought for any kind of access console, and quickly found what appeared to be the door controls. THey were disabled on this side, of course, but he had been forced to break through enough of similar types of blast doors during his various criminal and self-preservation experiences as a mercenary, smuggler, and bodyguard. He quickly tore the access panel from the wall and set about attacking the wiring and circuitry with the tools he had been provided by the Security Bureau for this very purpose. He was no tech expert, but he was capable enough, and self-preservation, if nothing else was a powerful motivator. It took longer than he may have wished, but eventually he managed to hotwire the doors open, at least a space wide enough for him to leap through.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]As he rolled into the first corridor past the blast door and into whatever cover he could find, Pharazon immediately came under deadly accurate fire, his left left deeply grazed by a blaster bolt. Reacting immediately, he returned fire, not letting himself lose himself to panic, rather channeling his anger and fear into white hot focus. The fight to reach the scientist was on.[/SIZE]

[member="Lierra Umdal"]

 

[Lierra Umdal]

She waited, pacing across the room, panic building at every second.

"Where is Dr. Klein, and the others?"

"Dr. Klein and his team are currently at a safe location, and escaped prior to enemy formation of the blockade."

She would give a heavy sigh of relief hearing this knowledge, knowing her accomplices would remain safe for the time being."

"Good..good. And how's the situation in the hallway?"

"...Our forces appear to be falling. Threat is imminent."

"That's impossible, a single soldier?"

Her breathing would quicken, almost hyperventilating.

"No..no no no no-"

"I would advise-"

"Quiet!"

Lierra would shuffle her body over to a series of monitors, falling into the chair and proceeding to rapidly type the keys. She would hit a series of buttons, sending a message to her comrade, before pressing send. The satisfaction of having sent the file only calmed her for a mere second before she would rush over to a nearby panel, hitting a button and unveiling two blaster pistols underneath.

Holding the pistol in her hand, she would turn to the sound of the doors' swift opening. She attempted to maintain any amount of dignity left in the fact of the soldier. Facing the blaster pistol towards her target and pressing a hidden button beneath her desk, almost shaking, she would speak.

"You...you are quite persistent. I mean, did you really think you could just destroy everything we've worked for? It's too late. I've already got more forces on their way to deal with that lot down there, and you're going with 'em."

'I mean I always thought...I always expected some sort of resistance, the way things were going here. But I never thought it would be from the outside, from...the first order? I know what you people do. I've heard the stories."

A fearful inhale could be heard from her voice.

"And believe me when I say, I will not become a slave to perform such acts."

Their interaction would be ended by the sound of two entering K1S Vanguard droids from behind. Similar in appearance, yet more heavily armored and adept than the Enforcer, these warrior-like models were a newer design, acting as Lierra's personal bodyguards. The undeniable and intense buzzing sound of their electro-staffs could be heard twirling to their sides as they held their position. Lierra could be heard shouting over the noise.

"Your little mission ends here, soldier!"

In mere seconds, the droids were spinning the staffs in combat formation, advancing upon the intruder, and aiming to kill.

[member="Pharazon Draken"]​