Nocturne City

[Evoros]

NAR SHADDAA

The gala was crowded to the brim, overflowing with people and colors and music and lights. It was the first time since the years following retirement from the One Sith that former General Raza Rane had emerged from silence, and he'd not spared expenses. He was showcasing the treasures he'd amassed in his years of looting world after world from the hands of the Republic. He was even going so far as to auction a few off.

Silently, the Collective had taken note.

__________​

​

Yvonne Evoros was bored.

In principle, she was not opposed to the idea of parties. When the drinks and the company were good, such a thing could even be fun. But this one was dull, because she was neither drinking nor enjoying the company. She was watching the walls, the ceilings, the hallways, mind creating a map of the building's defenses. When they were ready and the team could set to work disabling security, she'd have fun. But neither the party nor the mission was in its exciting stage yet, so boredom for now would suffice.

Elsewhere among the crowds that held their breath in wait to see the treasures Rane had boasted of, three other agents lay in wait. It was small comfort to imagine that they were just as bored as she was, but a comfort all the same.

__________​

​

Another team of agents, meanwhile, neared a freighter depot. Within a matter of hours, once the party had quietened and the excitement subsided, several transports would send auctioned goods to their new owners.

That was his plan. The Collective had theirs.

Spoiler

Team 1: Infiltrate the party in order to mark defenses, disable security, and break into the vault.

[member="Hazel Zanteres"] | [member="Kalak the Raykkan"] | [member="Dyxra'a"]

Team 2: Ambush the freighter depot and hijack the transports meant to secure the auctioned goods for transport to their new owners.

[member="Janeth Farr"] | [member="Sanguinaria"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"]

 

[Janeth Farr]

Janeth piloted an airspeeder only a few klicks out from the freighter depot...

Thick smog made visuals difficult, and thus she had rely on electronic instruments to read the surrounding terrain of towering superstructures and countless other speeders as she descended from above. Her objective--although dangerous and brutal--was far easier than that of the infiltrators. She could be subtle if she had to, but the Mandalorian knew where her talents were best put to use. She wore her armour in full, with a blaster rifle slung along her side and a pistol holstered firmly to her hip.

"This is Janeth, I'm moving in." She alerted her team over a private frequency.

The plan was simple: Eliminate the threat and take the freighters. If word reached Raza of their coming, then the mission failed. So even if they weren't to be subtle directly, they still had to be totally lethal. Simple as it all may have been, the execution presented a great challenge for them all.

Thankfully she had grown familiar with Nar Shaddaa, and now had a few tricks up her sleeve in case things got sticky.

[member="Evoros"] | [member="Sanguinaria"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"] | Team 2

 

[Mheralis]

Team 2

She was afraid. She always was, in truth. Nearly every mission, easy or difficult, subtle infiltration or plain murder, she was always afraid.

It was the same with this one. Hired off the streets by a man who seemed to know too much about her, and offered a sum of money she couldn't refuse, she'd done what she'd always done; nod, and ask no questions. Whether it was eagerness to get the coin and a shot of adrenaline, or simply a forgetful mind, she never asked questions, and always regretted it. Now here she sat in the speeder, piloted by a woman she didn't know, sitting along people she knew less, traveling to an unknown destination. Fortunately, she knew what her job entailed, and what she couldn't do. She supposed that was enough.

She felt a shudder of fear run through her, and watched her hand tremble as it clenched around the rifle it held. When the time came, and she had to put her skills to use, the fear would wash away from her body, and strengthen her mind, like a sick sort of drug. The very thought of it made her jerk that wicked grin of hers upwards. The hands had their skills and merits, but the rifle they held was another story. Urban situations called for short-ranged measurements, so she took a compact blaster rifle, slapped a silencer on it, and called it finished. The poor gun had seen its years, and, not being one of her favorites, had seen less and less cleaning as those years went on. She'd given it a rinse before the speeder picked her up, but only time could tell if it would work. Just to be sure — and for mental reasons, too — she'd brought her trusty long-range blaster rifle as well, mounted on her back with a tight strap. She wasn't naive, though; the rifle would not see use if everything went to plan.

Then, the fated words came. Mheralis looked at the other team members, who had all heard the pilot's alerts as well. It was time. The safety pin clicked out of position, and she stood up, holding unto the ship's handholds with a hand that no longer trembled. She hadn't wasted words during the travel here, and she was not about to break the silence, either. If words would come, they'd come out during a fight, or afterwards, and that's just how she liked it.

[member="Janeth Farr"] | [member="Sanguinaria"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"]​

 

[Hazel Zanteres]

The gala was in full swing, crowds of various sorts had filled in tonight to see what the retired General Raza Rane had on offer.

Hazel had mused over the idea of using a cover, she knew several that could be useful. A number of which would place her as a former medic of the One Sith. But given the host was a General, it wasn't exactly the best idea.

There was the risk of being caught in the lie, him potentially knowing the actual woman and calling her out.

So she had simply came as herself, which had resulted in various amusing reactions from the rest of the Collective.

The armoured bounty hunter was gone, replaced with Doctor Hazel Zanteres.

The Hapan passed by Evoros, and headed towards the bar. Might as well get a drink or two in before things got hectic.

[member="Evoros"] | [member="Kalak the Raykkan"] | [member="Dyxra'a"] | Team 1​

 

[Itash Mecetti]

There are often opportunities in the Galaxy, if you were willing to try them out.

Took guts, taking risks and generally being apathetic about the moral fabric of your actions.

Enter: Itash Mecetti.

There were was little that the young Lord wouldn't do, if it meant pay, if it meant money, if it meant... comfort. This time around he was here for the auction of a certain former General, some of the items were believed to be worth millions if not more. He wasn't here to buy, oh no, that would be a waste of his money. Why buy when you could simply... make people see it their way to grant it to you for free? By the edge of a sword, by the simple lack of knowledge they were giving it away, or a plethora of other opportunities.

It wasn't so different from raiding tombs and pillaging graves, if you thought about it.

Currently he was moving from the bar - casting an appreciative look at the passing figure of one [member="Hazel Zanteres"] - towards [member="Evoros"]. Ita had noticed her before and a fierce fight had erupted in his psyche: to distract himself with two glasses (just one for him) or to continue with casing the establishment.

The existence of the two glasses in his hands would note which one had won.

He took the wide walk, giving her full opportunity to see him coming. Why? Because something told him that surprising this one was not a good idea for the long haul. Smile tugging, glasses in hand he inclined his head slightly in greeting.

"Imperial. Menacing. Stoic." Itash commented after taking in the view. "Both of us have our image well in hand, but surely a drink and a conversational partner could raise both our spirits?"

The glass was offered.

 

[Evoros]

Droids here. Guards there. An opening? No, that would be instantly cut off. She had affected the guise of one appreciating the sight of the gala, but beneath it the agent was scrutinizing every inch of the room's layout.

Then tapered amber eyes fell on an approaching figure, and Yvonne lifted an eyebrow as he reached her, a glass in each hand. She had always been content in solitude - but that wasn't to say she disliked company, either. Her gaze ran up and down the stranger unabashedly, and then a smirk curled her lips, verging predatory.

She had time to kill, after all.

"Mmm, you read my mind." Deftly, she swiped the offered glass. Drinking on the job had plenty of potential to go wrong. But she always took calculated risks. So, a sip as she regarded him with her smiling brand of curiosity. "The 'tall and mysterious' image is working well, I'll admit."

The part of her mind that wasn't fixed on the stranger was tracking the room, counting the minutes. She'd have to give him the slip when the time came, smile and lie her way across to Zanteres and the rest. Soon. She wouldn't forget. But for now she was having fun.

| [member="Itash Mecetti"] |​

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Evoros"]

"Ain't the only thing I wanna read." Itash retorted without skipping a beat, before they clinked glasses softly and his smirk disappeared behind crimson liquid.

The wine was excellent, but missed some of the noir bouquet that a more mature vintage would possess. A bit too light around the edges and the soft burn on the tongue. Then again, Itash couldn't truly hold that against the General, they weren't in Tapani Space after all. This was Nar Shaddaa out of all places.

The people here would probably not even recognize a good old fashion Tapanian Crimson if it hit them in the face.

Smile grew wider at her admission of interest and he shrugged in something similar to humility. "Well, I always figure that when trying to interest someone as interesting as yourself? You may as well go the extra parsec."

He sipped.

"Lord Itash of House Mercetti, pleasure." is yours. His eyes said it, his mouth didn't follow for now.

 

[Hazel Zanteres]

Hazel's heels clicked against the floor as she moved towards the bar, eyes moving past the those before her and looking towards what drinks were on offer. Although as she drew near, she caught the eye of someone passing in the opposite direction; Itash Mecetti.

A raised eyebrow and a slight smirk was her response.

The Hapan reached the bar and casually sat herself down onto one empty stools situated in front of it. She waited until for the bartender to tend to another, before she waved him over. Hazel ordered her drink and waited, sliding around on her seat to start looking over at the gathered crowd.

Lots of guards stationed around, and she was certain a few personal bodyguards were also present.

There were a lot of people present, with many of them carrying weapons.

She hoped the plan would go smoothly, otherwise the whole situation would get ugly real quick.

[member="Evoros"] | [member="Itash Mecetti"]​

 

[Evoros]

"Yvonne," she offered in return. "No titles. Nice to meet you."

She could've thought of a name on the spot and delivered it without a hitch. She was good at that. (People always thought they'd be able to tell when you lied. Cute. They never did.) But they were drinking. They were talking. Yvonne had a brief time left for tonight where she didn't need to worry about who knew her name, and she wanted to make the most of it.

So Yvonne it was.

Another sip. Not bad, not bad at all. General Rane really had pulled all the stops for this gala. A part of her was curious what had made him break his silence - another was perfectly content just to take advantage of the opportunity. She was a thoughtful being, but also a selfish one.

"So, Lord Itash, are you on Shaddaa often?"
She nearly asked why he was at the gala. But that would've made it her turn next, and she was enjoying not lying.

| [member="Itash Mecetti"] |​

 

[Faceless]

Faceless
Team Two
Nar Shaddaa
Objective: Overwatch for team two

Now this was an interesting job. Faceless had primarily done mercenary and assassination work, discreet and then some, but a heist? This was a new one. The Collective had come to him for this job, needing a delicate hand to act as the overwatch for the second team going into do the deed of ambushing the freighter depot and stealing the valuables belonging to some General. Like he had thought, an interesting job and another to put under his growing achievements, it was stupid to turn it down.

Of course, a patient hunter needed a good view of his prey, and with Nar Shaddaa that was all too easy.

Having sneaked his way into a nearby building with plenty of coverage of the depot, the marksman took up his position. Carefully removing the glass pane of a window without attracting attention or making any noise and gearing his rifle up for a discreet session of killing, the suppression certainly made sure of that, Faceless was ready as support, with a speeder waiting nearby for when he needed to relocate or assist with the push into the depot itself. His voice came over the communicator that had been set up to relay with his team for this operation, having chosen to adopt the voice of an Imperial, he'd speak whilst adjusting the scope and making it fit the specifications of the range, distance and possible winds or forces that could possibly adjust his shot; "Faceless reporting, in position on overwatch." It was a slugthrower, after all, these things needed to be taken into account but...

There was something so satisfying about a slug as opposed to a blaster.

 

[Sola Tymon]

s o l a _ t y m o n

---

General Rane's Gala, Nar Shadda, Y'Toub System, the Mid Rim.
Interacting with: Team 1 through holocommunicator.​

---

​

Sola knew uncomfortably well that she was out of her league: she looked nothing like a high brow auctioneer, let alone someone with the credits to spend at such a place. If she tried to walk in the front door, the guards would probably send her on her way. She had tried probing her way into the system externally, but evidently, Rane had taken care with hiring his staff: it made sense, really, given the nature of the event. With walking in through the front door and not setting foot within the building both out of the question, she only had a few options left.

Sola adjusted her hat as she pressed through the staff entrance to the palace, rolling her shoulders to adjust how her coat sat on her shoulders. The Aurebesh written across the back of her coat and across her hat denoted her as event staff, which sat loosely on her lacking frame. While she did catch a few wayward glances, nobody paid her too much mind. A brief examination of the entrance hallway led her to pick the hallway to her right, where she pressed through deeper into the staff area, towards the kitchens and other facilities.

While her search for an access point to the computer network was initially fruitless, she did eventually come across some luck: a dataslate left on a table outside of the staff showers, while one of the showers ran. Taking it in hand, she found it was locked, although that wasn't a horrible issue: after a quick glance about the ablutions for anybody that might interrupt her, she stepped over towards one of the toilet cubicles to lock herself inside.

Within the cubicle, Sola tossed her hat onto her lap to replace it with her VR headset, drawn from the bag from her side. After awkwardly setting up her computer in her lap, she pinned the dataslate between her knees and ran a lead between the two. With the two connected, breaking in wasn't difficult: the OS used by the dataslate was of the common variety, meaning all it took was some probing for details and a quick script. Within, hidden among all sorts of unrelated odd and ends, she found what she was after: the staff map of the facility, annotated with all the rooms she was after. After promptly downloading the map, she disconnected the dataslate and went about swapping out to her prior disguise.

After placing the dataslate back where it was, the man showering blissfully unaware of what just happened to it, Sola began her way towards the staff head chef's office. Hopefully, it would have the access she needed: if not, she could use it to get the access she needed. Lifting a hand to her head as if rubbing at her temples, she discreetly whispered into her holocommunicator, sat neatly in her ear:
"I'm on my way to start with the network."

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Evoros"]

Sip.

Head tilted as he listened.
Eyes roamed.

"Oh, here and there. When I need to sell some of my wares, pick-up a few hints for my next destination, seduce beautiful women during high-stakes auctions." Sip, crimson smile like a cheshire appearing slightly from above the glass. This was truly more fun than trying to heist this place. Which wasn't off the menu, but it was a bit further pushed away. After all. He had already sold his load of stolen artifacts last night and was once more afloat for the next two weeks.

It meant that he could take it easy for now.

Enjoy the sights, experience them too if he was lucky.

"So, why are you at the auction, Yvonne No-Titles?" Sip. Careful sips, because good wine should be enjoyed rather than poured over like some cheap ale. But you couldn't let it go to waste either. Sometimes you just needed to wet your throat frequently and often. It kept the mood going, kept the action flowing and the words moving along fast. The light buzz was making his skin tingle, but it only took a fraction of his focus for his body to start burning the residual toxins in his bloodstream.

Vision cleared up once more.

That was better.

 

[Evoros]

Drat.

She had been enjoying not lying. But lies were easy. Lies came easily as breathing.

Quick. "I heard there would be drinks and nice things to look at," she decided without missing a beat, head tilting as her smile teased behind a wineglass. "Straightforward enough decision."

Nice as it was not to have to lie from time to time, the agent didn't feel a flicker of distress at improvising the truth. He'd never know, never have trace of reason to suspect (or, she was certain, to care). And she herself was used to it. These days it came to her naturally. She could've just as easily given Itash three other backstories off the top of her head. Honesty was a commodity she couldn't afford to give freely - it was there for when telling the truth was more useful than making it up or in those rare occasions when she felt like being Yvonne and not Agent Evoros. Rare, but it happened.

Besides, I'm here to steal some treasures because my secret organization needs them more than you do tended not to go down so well with strangers.

Another sip of wine, another twitch of that smirk.
Yes, plenty of nice things to look at.

"You?"

| [member="Itash Mecetti"] |​

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Evoros"]

"It's good you weren't disappointed with either then." He responded without missing a beat, while returning her smile. Part of him wondered if there was more at play here.

No basis for it other than the glint in her eye for a moment when his question came. But Itash decided that he didn't truly care one way or another, either way she was quite pleasant to look like. All that the Lord wondered right now was how she would taste. But perhaps that would be a touch to soon in this particular environment.

Then the question inevitably was bounced back to him.

He smirked, finished this glass to give her a moment of what could it be?, before shrugging slightly.

"Oh, well, it's a very big secret. Are you sure I can trust you?"

"Mmm, well, I suppose I could keep it quiet just for you."​

​

Smirk widened, if that was possible and Itash leaned in, lips brushing her ear just faintly as hot breath washed over skin. She smelled nice, soap, lavender, but this wasn't the time to be distracted. "I am here to rob this place." Itash retreated, giving her some space as he winked at the expression of disbelief.

 

[Evoros]

Oh.
Oh...chit.

Her mind cursed. Her face kept smiling.

"Oh, really?" She lofted a brow. "That is a big secret."

"Well, when you're finished robbing the poor General..." a grin, eyes that invited. It was both a mercy and a shame that Itash couldn't appreciate the irony. "I'll still be about. Come find me."

Now that one was a lie he'd uncover. But at least she wouldn't be there to deal with that discovery (truthfully, would she have cared either way?). Yvonne had a job to be doing.

She finished her wine and started in another direction. Eyes swept the room and found Zanteres's gaze; time. Follow me. And then she kept walking, finding a hallway. Evoros trusted that the other agents would know to avert attention from their path, to wait before they caught up to her, to reach the rendezvous point without raising suspicion.

But then - who would be noticing them, who would be worried? All eyes were on the party. All eyes were waiting for General Rane. What convenience.

[member="Itash Mecetti"] | [member="Hazel Zanteres"]​

 

[Hazel Zanteres]

It had taken about a minute, but eventually Hazel had her drink and was happily sipping at it as she continued her examination of the room. Being here at the auction had reminded her that she was never really one for these types of events, galas especially.

There had been a number of times when some 'admirer' or even a former patient had voiced their desire to wine and dine her, taking her out for a dance amongst all the glitz and glamour. It had not been the Hapan's scene all those years ago, and the same could be said now.

However, she had a sneaking suspicion her time with amongst the Collective will end up in similar venues and locales.

She picked up the slight buzz of the earpiece, hidden in her right ear. Hearing Sola's message, it seemed the young slicer had found her spot and was getting ready to breach the venue's network.

Then Hazel saw it from the corner of her eye, Evoros suddenly moving away from the handsome stranger. She turned to look, catching the woman's gaze as she continued walking. The message had been passed, and the Hapan immediately finished her drink before slipping away herself.

As she made her in Evoros direction, she caught sight of Itash as he followed Evoros' behind.

Something told the Hapan they were going to end up with extra company.

[member="Evoros"] | [member="Itash Mecetti"] | [member="Sola Tymon"]​

 

[Vilaz Munin]

His adopted son couldn't do a clean job...as usual. The warrior thought he could entrust Lok as a representative of his clan on the front lines of the Collective, but he was unsurprisingly unsuccessful. Vilaz would support the Collective from behind the scenes as his esteemed clansmen would be the muscle of the faction and have him supervising his clan and assets.

So here he was to show the rest of his team how to do this. He was never the silent type which wouldn't fit him for those inside the Gala, but he would have to be somewhat discrete so that their cover wasn't blown therefore compromising the other team's goal.

"This is Vilaz. I'm moving in position," the Sole Ruler said in the encrypted frequency he and the others shared. His equipment was his unique, recognizable Mandalorian armor, his main assault rifle crafted by Armatech with a rifle silencer, WESTAR-34, and the usual with only a wrist repulsor replacing his wrist laser. His belt was complemented with a sonic detonator, two concussion grenades, and a thermal detonator.

His rifle was aimed at one of the guards with steady aim. He started experiencing what marksmens had to deal with. Call breathing and lots of sweat from concentrating.

[member="Janeth Farr"]

 

[Janeth Farr]

The speeder maintained its steady course over the depot, doing a single fly by to give Janeth a read of the area. When she began to loop around she spoke over their private channels.

"Overwatch, I'm going to need you to take of the guard on the far east side. He's standing alone in a watch tower." That would be their point of entry. With the high guardian taken out, there would be no one to spot a discreet speeder from landing on the exterior pad. The rest of the depot guards were focused on the freighters, but it wasn't high priority yet.

They weren't expecting the possibility of trouble until the freighters were loaded. That proved to be their advantage point.

She then radioed the rest. "Once everyone is position we need to begin our strike immediately. The scramblers will only give us a minute. We move in swiftly, and forcefully. Eliminate everyone who isn't us and take those ships. Set to lethal force; stuns are too risky." If anyone were to alert the general's men of what was happening then their operation failed. An all out assault on his pent house was not going to win them any favours.

Now she waited for Faceless to do his part, then she could land. There were still a number of guards between her and the main pads, as she was sure the others experienced a similar understanding.

[member="Mheralis"] | [member="Faceless"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Sanguinaria"]

 

[Faceless]

Faceless
Team Two
Nar Shaddaa
Objective: Overwatch for team two

The music started to play.

It all started with the opening of the piece, the radio chatter coming through to Faceless requesting that a set of eyes acting as security over the position that Janeth was planning to use as her entry point be discreetly closed by force, and Faceless was in the perfect position to do so. With his vantage point, spotting the lone figure in the watch tower watching that side of the depot exterior. The target had been found and was pin-pointed by the scope that sat atop the suppressed slugthrower rifle in the hands of the Clawdite. As if a smooth flow-chart of processes in time to soothing music in his head, Faceless began to adjust for the ballistics utilized by the slug that would soon find its mark. Magnification came into account, a solid x12 zoom that gave him a perfect view of his target, the range and the adjustment of the elevation of the rifle was taken into account, the killing blow lined up to be executed with a single, swift stroke. Faceless typically acted with a professional demeanor whilst on the job, especially in the presence of others, but being isolated with a goal allowed him to deviate from that mindset slightly. The job still needed to be done and when he inevitably rejoined his team he'd have to recompile himself to give off the impression of professionalism to his clients. For now, however? He could indulge in the art of his craft... And the masterpiece was about to unfold.

He waited until the shot was perfect, allowing the target to move to a position that would automatically conceal his body upon his death. A passerby the tower on some form of perimeter patrol passed, having a brief conversation with the tower guard before moving on. Faceless pulled the trigger when everything lined up perfectly; the shot suppressed by the attachment but also the ambiance of Nar Shaddaa as it was. One shot, one kill and not a single eyewitness to the poor guard's death; "Target eliminated." the Imperial voice rang out.

Janeth had her opening. The team's guardian angel waited for the next target.

[member="Janeth Farr"]

 

[Mheralis]

Team 2 —

The speeder closed in on the freighter depot, and suddenly everything became clear. There was killing to be done, and the stench of death already hung in the air — whether it was hers or the rest, however, she didn't know. She couldn't know.

She looked back one final time to the rest of the men in the speeder, to see the looks on their faces, whether they were determined or frightened or something in between. Yet all she saw was emptiness staring back at her. That was odd. There was no one there beside her and the pilot in the frontal cabin. Had fear messed with her senses? Or were it the concoctions she'd imbibed before the mission started, there to focus her and keep her mind at ease? They were fickle elixirs, after all, and any misplaced ingredient could have queer results. It mattered not; she felt them work nonetheless, felt her fear seep away until it was but a memory, and then the sweet heralding hymn of the first shot rang through her ears like music.

It was time.

The door flew open, and the speeder reached the landing zone. Mheralis clung to the craft with one hand and shot with the other, aiming from the hip and guided by instinct. Four shots, four screams, yet she knew not where she had hit. One guard crumbled to the floor while another scrambled and screamed for aid, reaching for his own rifle, but soon the death toll ticked to two as two more shots fled from her rifle. Adrenaline shot through her veins like wildfire, and she could feel it tingling in the tips of her fingers, eager to pull the trigger more. But she couldn't, not yet. First, the speeder needed to land for further targets to be within firing range, and she'd need to locate not only the guards, but the third man on the comm too, or else her eagerness would have perilous effects. Waiting for the speeder to land felt like an age; an age in where she didn't fire, and hid, a deathly quiet surrounding her. She knew the depot was in chaos now, shots fired left and right, yelling through the comm, theirs and hers, but she heard none, muffled by adrenaline and battle-lust. She filled the quiet with her laughter.

[member="Janeth Farr"] | [member="Faceless"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"]​