Liberation

[Josh Dragovalor]

Unnamed Planet
Spaceport


At some point after the incident at the cantina, Joshua had managed to find a way to get ahold of Dusaro. He hadn't really given a whole lot of info. Just stated that he had found a slave camp that he intended to liberate, gave him the coordinates, and gave him a date and time that he would be at the spaceport in order to meet him there if he wished to join him on the mission. He would be doing it with, or without him, of course.

Unfortunately, his secret was out due to the encounter with Hion. He'd been outted as a former Grandmaster of the Jedi Order. When you think about it, he never really lied. He still fought in wars, he still served the Republic at one point, and he had left for the same reasons he'd stated. He'd only hidden what sector he was in exactly, and he never really asked.

Garbed in the same casual attire as last time they had met, the Jedi Master would wait at the spaceport, looking to see if Dusaro would be showing up.

[member="Dusaro"]

 

[Dusaro Dresari]

(This just how popped up oddly on my feed, sorry about the slow reply)

Dusaro confirmed the message, reading through it and nodding mentally to himself. 'Mmmm... Alright... That's the when... And that's the where.' He thought to himself. Easy enough to make as he was free, not having found a job, but riding on enough credits to live without a job for around two months. So taking out some money, gearing himself up and getting ready, Dusaro would arrive at the appointed place, and the appointed time, a bit early in fact. Dusaro didn't care about him being the former Jedi Master, at least not for the reasons most would. No, he cared for completely different reasons. And not reasons such as betraying or doing anything to attack Joshua or the like.

But, reasons, names, truth and lies aside, it didn't change the fact that Dusaro arrived, on time, as he said he would. Dusaro himself was in the same exact clothes, with an additional verpine shatter gun at his side, and the sword this time across his back. There also appeared to be a few new bulges at both his belt line and higher up, though what they were was unknown.

When he spotted Joshua, he waved over. "Yo. I do believe i am on time? Got synchronized up to a different night/day cycle then this planet." He commented, yawning, a bit tired.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Well, he seemed to not care enough to decide to show up anyway. His expression remained stoic, serious and all-business as he noted the Mercenary arriving, but he nodded as he acknowledged his arrival. "Yeah, you're on time" The Jedi Master would respond. "Timezones seem to differ from planet to planet. I tried to give you Galactic Standard, time-wise, but I suppose it doesn't always work, depending on the planet" He added, before taking a look at the datapad he was holding.

"We're going to rent a speeder and make our way out to the camp, out in the wilderness" Joshua would explain. "If you need to kill the slavers, feel free. Unlike most other things, I don't tend to spare them, there's no reforming a slaver" Joshua would explain. "But once we arrive, we fight through the slavers, and try to find any keys we can for slave collars or cages. Clear out the slave camp, free any caged slaves, and collared ones, we need to get rid of the collar without frying their brains" Josh would add.

"I have the coordinates, so we can leave whenever you're ready"

[member="Dusaro"]

 

[Dusaro Dresari]

"Yeah, the time was right and all, just my mind was set to another time and yadda yadda screwed up timing on my part." He said with a smirk. As Joshua looked at his datapad he went silent, nodding as he spoke, listening intently to the plan. He nodded a bit after he went through all that. Interestingly Dusaro's mannerism and attitude had not really changed... At all. For all intents and purposes he simply didn't care it seemed.

"Hrm... Would an ion blaster work for killing the slave collars? Or to risky? Sticking with using the keys of course but for a back up plan. And don't worry about me leaving any slavers behind." Though that was all the questions he had, and after that Dusaro was ready to get up and go, and was exceptionally well equipped for the occasion. "Got even a rough ideas on numbers?" He asked when they started to head under way. If he was reading his surface emotions, Dusaro was just calm, composed and relaxed. He had the feeling of 'a professional starting everyday Monday work'.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"No worries" The Jedi Master would remark toward him with a nod as the Mercenary would explain his timezone issue. "It's totally fine, you showed up on time, that's all that matters. Now we can get to the matter at hand" He added as they walked. But for a moment, he stopped and looked back at him.

"I guess I might as well introduce myself for real this time, since we're taking this mission together, and you already know part of it by now" Josh would suddenly speak, taking a breath. "My name is Joshua DragonsFlame, Jedi Master. I was a member of the Republic and it's Jedi Order for about 16 years of my life, I've been a member of the Jedi Council, as well as it's leader and Grandmaster. In terms of the Republic, I was considered a war hero to some, though as I've told you before, I don't look at it that way. Jedi aren't supposed to run across the battlefield, lightsabers raised, chopping down soldiers everywhere they go, for political reasons. When I really let that, and the consequences of my actions sink in, I withdrew from future wars unless a Sith showed up, in which case I was to even the odds. And yes... I know full well what happens when something you love becomes corrupt. It's why I left" He spoke, letting out a sigh. "I'm a member of the Silver Jedi currently, though loosely, as a means for information and to help out from time to time. I don't deal with their business with the Sanctum and I don't care to. When not with the Silvers, I'm roaming the galaxy looking for slave camps like the one we're taking out now. This is how I do my job as a Jedi, without needing some kind of orders from a higher power"

"Now that we have the explanations out of the way... No. Don't use your blaster. They like to outfit the damn collars with a means to fry the brains of the slave if they or anyone else tries to use force to break the collar. If we can't find the keys, I can attempt to pick the locks, but it will take me quite a bit of time as I'm not as skilled as someone who does it professionally" Josh would retort to the question about the slave collars. "If possible, we need to find the keys. Which is another reason the slavers need to die. That, and you can't reform a slaver. Once they get that impression that they hold weight over other beings... Doesn't matter how many times you lock them up, they'll go right back to it soon as they're out" He would add.

He was... Colder, in some aspect. His mind was focused on the task at hand, it seemed.

"Not sure about numbers. We'll find out when we arrive"

[member="Dusaro"]

 

[Dusaro Dresari]

"Alright." Dusaro said as he suddenly spoke, having figured this was coming sooner or later, and listening in as he began to speak. Dusaro's look never really changed from one of simple, genuine curiosity and interest. Nor did at any point disdain or dislike enter as he talked about why he left, why he did what he did and the like. "Makes sense and all." Dusaro said simply about his explination.

It wasn't so much that he didn't care about Joshua's past, despite his casual proverbial 'shrug what is it?' attitude on it. They guy before him as far as he was concerned was just some guy with some pretty strong force abilities who used to be some Jedi, and now really wanted to wipe out slavers, while being related to some other Jedi group. So with that said, why should he care about any additional, complicated garbage? Things like titles, 'War Hero', 'Grand Master of the Order', he simply didn't care. Mostly because such things annoyed him, they made things unneeded complicated. And so he simply shrugged.

"Cant reform anything that thinks its above other life... Sounds about right to me. And only use key's." Dusaro wasn't really surprised by Joshua getting a bit colder. They were going on a mission to kill people at the end of the day, even if at the end of the tunnel they were releasing slaves. Dusaro was an exception to most people, in that he almost never got angry nor legitimately excited, and more or less kept a constant wavelength of emotions as it were.

"Ooooh, going in completly blind... I like it." He said with a joking grin. "And in advance, forgive my grim humor. I don't know how much you have hung around mercenaries, but rather black humor is common in the trade."

"Besides all that... I believe i am ready to head out, no more questions from me. Any from you on my loud out and the like?" He asked, taking out a visor that had some heat sensor's on it.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Contrary to what he might believe, Joshua didn't mind at all that Dusaro didn't seem to care. If he wasn't going to judge him for who he was previously, and only on the fact he was going to be taking down slavers, and wasn't going to backstab him for some political garbage, then he could call the man a friend and an ally quite easily.

His cold composure broke for a moment as that familiar smirk crossed the Jedi Master's face when he made his joke about going in completely blind. "I haven't really met many mercenaries on more then a few minute basis, and especially not for missions. So forgive me if my knowledge of your humor is a little... Black" He would joke. "But alas... Let's go" He remarked as the two would find the speeder he had rented. The Jedi would hop into the front seat and motion for the merc to hop in the back.

[member="Dusaro"]

 

[Dusaro Dresari]

That is more or less what Duaro figured Josh thought on the matter. Though he didn't think about it to deeply, not really caring to try and pry into why people felt and do the things they did. Unless it involved fighting styles. Then he would very much care. But on feeling and actions, not so much.

Dusaro raised an eyebrow as he saw the composure break, nodding a bit at the 'not knowing Mercenaries for more then a few minute basis'. And when Joshua finished his joke, Dusaro could only raise his hands in a slow clap. "Touche, you win this round." When he saw the speeder, he would head to the back seat as Joshua motioned, getting seated and getting comfortable. In the mean time to sate his species rather high level of hunger, he took out a protein cube, tossing it into his mouth and started to chew on the mildly beefy tasting, hard cube.

On the off chance something happened on the way there, he kept a sharp look out as they rode.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh had a very heavy dislike for slavers. Anyone who felt they could lord over their fellow man, and use them as nothing but slaves... It was absolutely unforgivable. How could you enslave your fellow man, sell them like your... Your property? And use them as nothing but unpaid servants, like they were just... A thing? It absolutely disgusted him. He'd arrested people like this many, many times... But they always get out, and they always go right back to the slave trade. Eventually, he realized the cold, hard truth... There was no reforming a slaver. He had to do what he should have done in the Jedi Temple that day. He should have been hard, harsh... And inflict the necessary judgement, regardless of his otherwise diplomatic and pacifistic tendencies. Deep down... He was a warrior, and sometimes... Sometimes you needed a warrior, a fighter... Instead of a lover, or a diplomat. It was a shame, but... That was just how things worked. That's life.

It seemed that even when he was all business, he could afford to crack a joke or two. It just wasn't him without it. Before long though, he'd started up the speeder and got driving out of the spaceport.

"Hey, you got any spares of those? I haven't eaten all day" The Jedi would request when he could hear him chewing.

[member="Dusaro"]

 

[Dusaro Dresari]

Dusaro hadn't really thought that deeply about it. They were people who thought they owned others, and that just simply pissed him off. He hated the idea. So he would kill them for it. A rather simple view point, that could on occasion lead to mess ups, but was good enough for him. But for a person who had to make hard choices fast often, such a mental view wasn't to surprising. A plain, quick to make up mind, for when one had no time. Not that he wasn't capable or didn't think on things deeply, but he generally just didn't. Unless it was about fighting. In which case he would think very, very deeply indeed.

Dusaro didn't seem to have a particular 'all business' mood, not that at least Joshua had seen yet. Relaxed and easy going was key, and he seemed like the kind of guy who would be chilled and crack a joke as a rancor charged at him. Though there were in fact things that could get him riled up.

"Yeah i do. They are protein cubes. Tastes like a piss-poor quality steak, but it will make you full." He said, taking out another and handing it to him. As promised, it tasted like a bad, over done and dry, stale steak, but they would give plenty of nutrients for a full meal. Of course it didn't beat an actual meal, but it was something.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

In normal circumstances, if Josh was forced to use his lightsaber, he'd either deflect bolts back at the enemy in hopes of just disabling them, or would go for the side, rendering them unable to fight, but still able to go on living. He never went for anything vital if he could help it. When he didn't have to use his lightsaber, he'd generally go completely non-lethal, using hand to hand and force powers in order to knock his opponents out. His style had changed dramatically from when he had gone to war - he'd grown up, he'd realized that he was a Jedi, not a soldier. He wasn't there to mercilessly kill people for political reasons... But at the same time, it was also because he'd lost people for the same reasons he had gone into battle and killed people. He had endured pain and suffering because for non-personal reasons, people had killed the people he had cared about. They didn't care about if they had a lover, or friends that cared about them... Or a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, a son, a daughter, a husband, a wife... It just didn't matter to them, and when that fact hit him, he realized how folly he had been. That was around when the Republic Jedi started to sour on him, he noted. As soon as he stopped becoming a killer... Everything changed. But he didn't regret it one bit.

Unfortunately, slavers were a different story. While he wouldn't kill a helpless opponent, even a slaver, in battle all bets were off. They didn't deserve that same system of honor and mercy that he gave anyone else. Even a Sith could be reformed... But a slaver, it didn't matter how many times you defeated them or locked them up. They had that mindset in them that they had the right to own other beings as property, to sell them like possessions, and use them as servants without a wage. It was sickening.

Josh was generally very laid back and easygoing, easy to talk to, easy to get along with, and he always had a joke or two to crack. But slavers were always a difficult business for him. He was a little colder then he usually was when it came to them... It was possible that he had to be, to stomach killing them like he did.

"Thanks" He said as he would reach back and take the cube, popping it into his mouth as he continued driving. "I know it's unwise to go into a mission on an empty stomach, I was distracted training on the way here" Joshua would explain between chews. "Ah, if only we got paid for this kind of work. Then we could eat an actual quality steak when we were finished instead of protein cubes" The Jedi would joke as he swallowed the cube.

"We shouldn't be too far now. I was thinking of scouting the area early before your possible arrival, but I arrived a little later then I had planned on, so I decided to just wait for you" Josh would add.

[member="Dusaro"]

 

[Dusaro Dresari]

Dusrao was nowhere near as forgiving in combat. To him, only ones that are prepared to fire at should take up arms themselves and fire. And if they weren't, they had no place there. So when someone shot at him, or he fired at someone, the possibility of death was accepted. Not that Dusaro would die easily from just a wound, and even at deaths door he would roar, fight and scream tooth and nail. He simply accepted the possibility of death, but refused to accept it even at its doors. A view point he figured was not really shared by very many other people in the galaxy. As for the fact that the people he killed were often there, providing for families, loved ones, friends, well, to him they knew it was a dangerous trade when they came in to fight. Or at least they certainly should have. They showed by joining the military they were ready to fight, live, die, and kill. So what reason did he have to hold back, even though they provided for loved? He had his own hopes and dreams as did they, and even some friends of his own, though he had no family to support. For the most part, he didn't think about all that. Because the people he shot at, and show shot at him, should have both understood and prepared for death. No longer being able to support their families. The fact that people would weep for them. All of those things one wordlessly accepts when one goes to fight. Or at least, those are things that should be accepted in his mind. Was it a cold way of thinking? Perhaps, but to him it was just a simple reality. Regardless of other attachments, in a fight, whether it was just a fight against gangsters, or a skirmish, a battle, a war, a crusade, a revolution. A fight was a fight. One side enters, one side leaves. It was the way of things. It wasn't pretty, and it wasn't supposed to be. War's face was an ugly one, as it should be, for it is an ugly thing. A destructive thing.

"Distracted by training huh? Fair enough, done that a few times myself. Why i keep these around." He said, swallowing down the cube he had been chewing on. "Been on a mission without any food once... That wasn't my fault though. People messed up supply chains, had to scavenge on a forest planet for food. Not fun." He said, remembering the events with more then a bit of dislike

"Alright. I can help as we get into the area with this. Thermal vision visor." He said, pulling it out and putting it on, turning it on. What kind of terrain were they dealing with where the slavers were?

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Well, it would be obvious that their philosophies would be different. Josh was raised by an order meant for it's diplomacy and pacifism. Albeit, they had forgotten that philosophy quite some time ago, but Josh still kept to his traditions, his faiths, his morals and values. What he had been raised on, he stuck to. Unlike the others... He refused to abandon his philosophy that he had grown up around unless it was for good reason. Hell, the only reason he even abandoned the no killing part was for slavers... And with good reason.

The blonde would chuckle and nod at his response. "I do it quite often, actually. I sometimes forget to eat, sometimes even forget to sleep. I'm glad my droid auto pilots the ship. If he didn't, I'd be cooked if I was training instead of steering the ship" The Jedi would joke cheekily. "I try not to go on missions without food though, but... Sometimes I get a little carried away and overlook eating, and don't realize I hadn't eaten until well in the mission. Sadly, we're too far out for me to go back and eat now. But I'll eat something good when I get home" Josh would add.

Soon enough, he would stop the speeder at a cliff overlooking a slave camp. He would get out, and motion for him to use the visor here. He stopped himself at the cliff... Observing.... Scouting.. Where were the slavers, how many were there and where were the slaves? And was there an office where they might be hiding the cage keys and collar keys, or was there a distinctly marked slaver that would have them? These were all things that he looked for.

[member="Dusaro"]

 

[Dusaro Dresari]

It would indeed be quite obvious, as would be expected. One was a mercenary who would fight for other people for money, and the other was a Jedi through and through. The amusement of the situation was notably not lot on Dusaro, who had a slightly amused look on his face for the entire ride. There might even be a hint of irony somewhere in there, but he decided to not think that deeply on it.

"Situations like that 're why he keep handy little tin-buckets around. Quite the able little fella's, though i don't work to well with 'em myself. Nor do i handle piloting real well." He commented, wincing slightly as he remarked about his piloting. He made quite the few unneeded close calls from time to time. "Though on that note, talking about training and the like, don't be to worried if i take hits."

Dusaro said as they arrived, whistling slightly in a quiet manner at the view. He took out the thermal imaging visor and slowly going over to the edge, finding a good vantage point with good cover so he didn't get spotted while he scanned for heat signatures. "One... Two..." He started quietly counting to himself the heat signatures he saw, doing his best to discern slave from slaver, though that wasn't exactly easy. Though if they had something that would block his thermal vision, he would of course not see anything. (Just adding this line here in case there is anything like that there)

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

It was actually kind of funny when he thought about it, especially considering he was considered a "black sheep" Jedi at this point. The aggressive, merciless Jedi were becoming a normality, and he was the black sheep. Of course, that also probably counted him stepping down, leaving the Order and not having a whole lot of contact with the Jedi since because he didn't agree one bit with their backwards politics. Buuut since it was because of the aforementioned aggressiveness... Yeah, he wasn't sure why he was a black sheep. Oh well. He was happier as is anyway.

"My droid's a good pilot. I'm not. So I just give him the coordinates and let him do it" The Jedi would remark as he scouted the area in front of them. He tried to close his eyes, relax.... And try to sense their life force. After he was able to find them, he tried to get a good look at them... Attire, and if they were armed told a good deal of who was friend, who was enemy. "Twenty six slavers total if you count the armed guards. Since they're all involved in the business... Well, we'll just group them in the same place since they're all pretty much scumbags" Josh would remark.

"I see... Fifteen slaves. 5 of them are in a cage, to the right of the center of the camp. It's always the center, it gives them more time to catch them before they escape if they try. More ground to cover. The office is at... Sector 6B of the camp, it's got that little flag on top of it. I see two slaves working there through a window. Some scumbag, probably a high ranking slaver, is overseeing them. That'll be where our key is. The communications array is at the top of the building, just to the right of the flag. If you have demolitions, it'd be best if we blew up the building once we got the slaves out from there and clear. Cutting their communication then making a break and hiding allows us to take them out separately if we so desire, and unless we make noise, less chance of reinforcements. The rest of the slaves are working around the camp. They're the ones in rags. Make sure that any slaves aren't in range when you engage them. I know these guys well, they're not afraid to take their own slaves as hostages, and will kill them gladly. I've learned all of this from experience" Josh would explain.

"Any ideas of what we should do first?"

[member="Dusaro"]

 

[Dusaro Dresari]

Dusaro was comfortable where he was, morally and in life. He wouldn't really have it any other way, even if it was possible. Though it was perhaps a bit odd in its own ways, his mental personality and the like. Though in truth he had his own personal reasons for doing what he did outside of enjoying the job.

"More or less the same here." He said, looking through the camp, mentally counting them all. He was about halfway through as Josh started to comment on how many there were, nodding a bit, mentally noting where the slaves were, as telling the difference was easy enough up close, and even from afar. "They have slaves in the comm-center huh? Yep, i see 'em. And i do have explosives. Enough to level that building actually." He said, rubbing his chin in thought, thinking on the situation, and what was best. After a moment he would speak.

"I have an idea. Three ideas actually. Depends on which one you like more. Both start with me sneaking around and into that office of theirs, and taking out the slavers inside, and releasing the slaves in it. That part is a constant on either idea. The next part depends on you. I could fire on the guards, starting with those closest to any slaves. Make sure they get the idea that being close to them is a life threatening thing. And while i do that, you flank them and do whatever you think is best at that time. Idea two, you start coming in at them, and i provide support form here. Third, after taking out the slavers in the building, we both just work down the guards before charging in."

He finished, stretching his neck. "Those are my three ideas. Anything else come to your mind?"

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Hmm, so he did have explosives after all. This could prove useful.... The Jedi would listen as Dusaro would outline three ideas he had in mind. All three were solid strategies, but they could only pick one, and they had to pick the one that would be the most efficient in their endeavour... So which one was it going to be?

"Let's try... Idea number two" The Jedi Master would remark, chuckling a bit. "I'm kind of a forward thinker. And a forward fighter. So we might as well charge right in once we've gotten the slaves out of harm's way, no?" He would inquire.

"Any ideas of where we proceed from here?"

[member="Dusaro"]

 

[Dusaro Dresari]

"Sounds good aye, now for getting in close..." He said, zooming in with his visor. "I see a rocky lower path behind their command center, looks like a little ditch." Dusaro said, pulling up his visor. "Looks like i could go around wide and use that to sneak up and get inside. Gonna have to go wide around the camp to get to it, but i can deal with that easily enough. As for you.." He said, looking at Joshua and after a moment of thought, then looked back at the camp.

"If you like being straight forward, come directly from the main road then. I will alert you by flashing this twice when i have secured their office and comm center, as well as the key." He said, raising a little light, and flashed it below the ridge line, to make sure the slavers didn't happen to see them. It was a very bright, electric white light, that could be seen even in the day.

"As for clearing out and getting the slaves free in the center of the camp, and the ones working... Just going to have to wait and see how things develop. Prioritize the ones outside the cage in the center first i would say though. They would try and use the ones outside of the cage for captives first, rather then try and open the cage and risk the slaves rushing out or the like. 'Least, that is what i would imagine. Thoughts?"

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"Feena Mason's knickers, do I look like a man who does well at sneaking around?" The Jedi would joke cheekily when he had his options presented to him. "I'm six foot three, I'm built like a bodybuilder, and I'm a magic space wizard with a sword that cuts through pretty much anything" He cracked. "Okay, I'm kidding. I can sneak around if need be. But I'm still better at attacking head on" He would add.

"Alright, that sounds fine. I'll attack as soon as you shine your little nightlight twice" He cracked. "Will go right for the areas with slaves that aren't caged. If I'm lucky, I can clear through our slaver friends and send the slaves your way. Then you can get them the hell out of there and direct them to a meeting point we can meet at once we're done. Afterword, same thing for the caged ones. After that... Well, once the slaves have left, we get the key for their collars if we haven't already, and clear out any remaining slavers. And with your explosives..." He began, bringing up the last part when he asked for his thoughts.

"Well, let's just blow the place straight to hell. We don't want any other slavers bringing their slaves here. The more they have to build, the less time they have for taking slaves" He would add.

[member="Dusaro"]

 

[Dusaro Dresari]

"But we all known bulky space wizards have magicks for disappearing!" He remarked with an amused snort, shaking his head in amusement.

"Alright, sounds good. And yeah, i can blow this place up to bits. I have enough explosives for it. Might need a bit to properly plant them, but by that time, the camp will be clear." He said, stretching a bit and starting to stand up from the edge. "I will have the meeting point be in the ditch i am approaching from, and down around the bend there." He said, pointing out an area that was a reasonable distance from the camp, and out of sight.

"They can duck down under there and be safe from any stray fire as well as sight. That's the best place that is also close." He said, standing up and away from the edge, out of line of sight from watchmen at the slave camp.

"If that's all ye think, lets get started." Dusaro said, starting to creep around, keeping out of line of sight of the camp. Unless Joshua had more to add, then he would stay to hear it out, then move.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]