Path Finding - ACA Dominion of Bothawui

[Ronan Nakasla]

While chasing down the sniper's lead, Sigma had a moment to reflect. The Force, attuned to it as he was, felt a little bit... off. He couldn't pin it, but there was something even more chaotic about it than he'd ever felt it before. It was as though he were back behind the veil of ignorance, unable to fully pull it to his will. Just out of curiosity, he threw the bullet he possessed toward any random surface, and as it hurled on its path it jerked and flew sideways at an even greater speed. Valente frowned and shook his head. There was more wrong here than simple rogues. His senses felt at odds as well. While he did a decent job keeping himself alive, he should be able to feel more than he did. The thrum of life was just that. Thrumming. Pulsing. It should have been constant. Regardless, he reached his destination, mostly, according to his helmet. This was a the building. He unclipped his gun and slid into the structure.

The first thing that hit him was how dark it was. A light on his shoulder activated, and the next thing that hit him was how empty it was. There should've been refugees, or so he thought. People hiding. But there were a few scuffles of feet and then nothing. He stepped lightly as he could in a metal suit, and made his way through to where some signs said a staircase was. His senses were a little more befuddled in this place, but he could still tell where life was skittering. At least he had that.

 

[Irys Arist'lar]

"Ma'am, we have a series of Stargo ships dropping into orbit!"

Irys visibly bristled in her chair, a ripple of fur signalled her displeasure.

"Hail them and..."

"They're contacting us!"

"Helmsman. Hail the ASA forces. Let them know our intentions." said the Sith. Seated upon the command "throne" of the lead SDE vessel, Darth Metus set about issuing orders to his forces. However, he was not about to let his voice sound about the open channel. That was just asking for trouble. "Yes, my Lord." replied the helmsman. "Attention ASA forces, this is the SDE Expeditionary Fleet. We are here to lend a hand. Dropships have been sent to the surface to assist in getting things under control. Requesting clearance to engage the enemy forces."

"This is Admiral Arist'lar of the ACN. The last time your vessel showed up en-mass above one of our worlds you made idle threats and attempted to steal military equipment. I mention this so that you understand that whilst your assistance in this difficult time is greatly appreciated, we are someone cautious. We will allocate a member of our operational HQ to liaise and provide you designated zones of operation. Deviation from this agreed areas will not be tolerated." Irys replied succinctly.

"Monitor their movements as precisely as we can, generate alerts if they deviate or get too close to us. The Jupitus is a long way from fully operational and the fethers tried to steal her last time."

 

[Prime]

One thing Prime would never understand (until the Creator-race made a memory upgrade) was the value of nation and company. Sure, maybe the ACA was more corporate driven, and loyalty was to a company who signed checks, but Prime was a droid. Its only loyalty was to the task, the prime directive and to wearing the skins of the dead.

Or sometimes living.

Prime didn't care. If some enemy run time was still functioning, but could also function as protective camouflage, that was well within acceptable parameters. Aside from certain run times. Obsidian Knights, Alana Flag, Tion Hegemony members, Marek Starchaser, corporate CEOs, unless they were scheduled by the Techno Union for removal. It was a simple life the droid lived.

“This is Prime to friendly runtimes. Proceeding to capital with important program. Working to reestablish contact with businesses. Permission to terminate malware?”

Right, because, droid.

[member="Irys Arist'lar"]

 

[Barkt Melan]

Drev'stan
NPC Nallai Fey'ra

Outside the apartment now, Nallai moved silently through the streets. Any pirate she saw dropped dead within seconds. Perhaps she was killing too many. Perhaps it would have no impact. She didn't care. Barkt was gone, and she had nothing left. They wanted the planet. They wanted to own it.

She would make them pay for it, if nothing else.

Granted, she wasn't sure she liked the ACA, either. Sure, they kept Bothuwai safe, but the class divide and especially the way they had used Barkt had angered her.But she would tolerate them. For now. She kept killing, more and more enemies falling to her as she flickered in and out of sight.

And then she felt the shot slam into her back. She fell sprawling, and pain shot through her muscles. Blood stained the pavement as she lay there, her shoulder feeling as if it was on fire. Closing her eyes, she let herself slip into unconsciousness.

 

[Ronan Nakasla]

Sigma wrenched the neck of the sniper, even as he loosed another shot. He hadn't been a mere pirate. Too skilled. He didn't have time for that now, though. He could taste the lingering death on the air. A fresh bloodletting, but not his own. Someone's end was coming, and he either wanted that for his own subconscious hunger or to save a friendly casualty. He slipped out of the window and down a pipeline, wasting no time and disregarding care of personal safety. He gritted his teeth as the steel screeched against the building material, and he added the Force to slow his descent. He hit the ground, hard, and stayed kneeling for a moment before he trotted over to see a downed Bothan. He could feel it... she was alive. Taking a wild guess, he assumed the Bothan would be a local, and therefore not someone he could kill in good conscience.

So he dragged her off to the side and checked her wounds. A single shot did the trick, and he tapped into what little he knew of the Force to bring her off the edge of death. It took a few moments, and more struggle than he was accustomed to, but the deed was done. She would live and heal, to do whatever it was she did another day. He wondered how strong her will was, and whether she would wake sooner or later, but he didn't waste time finding out. He had a self-appointed mission. He returned to following the thrumming waves of the Force toward his target. He hoped. The Force didn't seem exactly reliable here...

[member="Barkt Melan"]

 

[Malok]

Wait. What?

Confusion played itself out upon the expression of the Sith Lord upon hearing the ACA's response. Since when was there ever hostilities between the nation and the corpoation that practically nursed its military? Since when was there a schism between the dream team? A glance to the helmsman prompted an explanation...one that Darth Metus was not particularly pleased with. "Zev's son, Xander, did a great job as CEO...until he started working with those Ession folks. They turned him into a radical and made him do outlandish things. I'd wager that's why he was replaced so quickly. It was either that or he drove the company into the ground." he said.

"So Xander parked a fleet over an ACA world with the intent of stealing property?"

"Not just any property. The Serenity."

Oh. Well that explained the hostilities then. Time to smooth things over? "This is the new CEO of SDE speaking." he said, doing his best to speak an octave lower than usual. "The attempted theft you speak of was prompted by our former CEO's involvement with the Ession Reformists. Overnight his rationality was replaced with radical thoughts, and he was instructed to steal property on their behalf. In light of these offenses, he was removed from office.

As the transition did not enlighten me to this particular offense, allow me to offer a sincere apology on behalf of Stargo Defense Enterprises. The ACA has been a constant friend and ally over the years, and I would rather see the two of us working together once more; especially in the face of this crisis. Your instructions will be followed to the letter, awaiting the designated areas of operation."

Hopefully that'd help. A little at least.

[member="Irys Arist'lar"]

 

[Seto du Couteau]

Three blasters pointed at Seto, his Training Saber ignited and ready, his senses stretched out and clearly felt the danger around him. Eyes flaring with annoyance as the bolts were easily deflected, either the pirates were not smart enough to stagger their shots but Seto felt at ease as he was able to focus his defenses. His footwork edged him closer and closer, side stepping several shots instead of simply deflecting them Seto released his dominant hand from his saber's hilt and grasped his sword hanging from his waist.

Jumping forward he slashed straight down, feeling the man's head get cut into as Seto raised his other saber to defended from the several wide and crazed shots from the other two pirates. Slicing through with his sword to finish off the first pirate Seto shoved the next pirate's blaster rifle with his saber. His sword followed quickly to end the second's pirates life, making a clean cut across the man's throat. His eyes targeted the last pirate, the man looked utterly terrified, his rifle shakily aimed at him, each shot easily read and deflected as Seto gave the last man a very bored look. "Learn to gamble better," Seto said nonchalantly. He jumped forward and sent his sword straight into the man's chest before easily sliding it out. The last body slumped onto the ground as Seto wiped away the blood off his sword with the last pirate's shirt. Disengaging his training saber he strapped both sabers to his waist once more as he walked back to his speeder bike.

A few more dead pirates to stop their senseless rampage over the good people of this city of Bothawui. He though felt as if he was doing practically nothing, which perhaps such observation of the bigger picture, was right. Seto's own meager fleet of relief aid would be shortly coming but with the enemy fleet still being in the system and what more the mass disappearance Seto wasn't sure of what to make of this entire situation. Sighing heavily he leaned against his speeder bike as he kept stretching out his senses to detect more hostile forces engaging on more defenless citizens or out numbered and out gunned police forces. Fingers running through his white hair Seto looked up towards the sky for a brief moment before returning to reality and jumping on his speeder bike and thrusting forward with blinding speed.

 

[Irys Arist'lar]

[member="Darth Metus"]

"My thanks for your prompt response. We suspected outside influence, but never garnered all of the facts. We have an exceptional intelligence agency here, but sometimes they forget that intelligence is only useful if they give it to someone to act upon. I doubt they can have been blind to the cause of recent events," Irys made a mental note to query MI about this.

She gritted her teeth together, the short tempered and arrogant Bothan was not fond of doing this. She noticed a nearby ensign lower his gaze and accelerate past her. She assumed her displeasure must have been obvious. "I apologise if I seemed blunt early, please carry on," she added through clenched teeth.

 

[Malok]

[member="Irys Arist'lar"]

At least now there was some semblence of an understanding. However, that did not relieve all the tension in the room, for the...angst...was quite strong in the Bothan admiral. Regardless, Stargo Defense was now free to offer its assistance. "Have the droids dispersed to the most chaotic areas. Blasters set to stun. I know there's probably rioting in the streets right now, so let's try to get some semblence of order achieved." said Metus to the Helmsman. After sounding an affirmative, the officer set about relaying his orders.

This left the Sith Lord to continue his conversation with the admiral. "Speaking of recent events, I know where your people are. The untold billions that have vanished into thin air? I know where they are...because I was one of them. There may be a way to reclaim your lost people, Admiral, and I'll gladly provide you with all I know on the subject."

 

[Irys Arist'lar]

[member="Darth Metus"] [member="Seto Du Couteau"] [member="Ash Valente"] [member="Barkt Melan"] @HWD-001 "Prime"

Irys sat back in shock at that. Could that possibly be true? Several members of the bridge crew who had heard the transmission stopped and looked in her direction. Many, no all, had lost people in the event. There was no pattern to the losses. So far every attempt to discern one had failed.

Irys had been rudely chastised by a scientist for questioning whether exactly half of the people had vanished. It was not quite exactly half but…and she could recall the way the scientist had looked down her nose at her and casually explained: “It is not, Miss Arist’lar, as if exactly half the people went. It is indistinguishable from someone going through every person in turn, flipping a coin and then making them vanish if heads come up.”

“This sounds like something we need to discuss in person, could you meet me aboard Station Daelst? And who is it that runs SDE these days then?”

She could perhaps be persuaded that SDE’s intentions were honourable, but she damn well wasn’t letting their people on this ship again.

 

[Prime]

Alana was making her way through the city. She was feeling pretty invincible being flanked by one of the premier, and the first Geth War Droid of the Hydra program. The other droids were fanned out and she could hear the blaster fire going off. It was... comforting. Knowing there were still people around, willing and ready to fight. She was the type to take her lightsaber to most problems, and that was the first one.

“Prime, we've got an issue with the door. Give me some cover, please.” She asked ever so politely to the war droid.

Focusing on the female's form. Prime did not nod, did not blink, did not do anything but process the request. Systems activating to place the droids in a holding pattern, the sound of the lightsaber. Blasters at the ready, anything that came within fifty meters of Alana was going to end up dead.

Real fast.

 

[Seto du Couteau]

"Mister Du Couteau sir," His guard said through Seto's ear piece.

"Received, what is your situation and status?" Seto asked quickly, slowing himself down on his speeder, assuring he was clear from hostiles.

"We have secured a five kilometer radius around the landing zone for our Bulk Freighters to land as well as receive incoming citizens, we have assembled several of the police force and City Workers and staff to organize the area to properly care for the people as we guard the area, very few activities have been reported. Few small pockets of wandering pirates easily dealt with but otherwise everything is secured," His guard rolled through the details quickly.

"Good, when more reinforcements arrive from the Freighters have them to increase our defenses and increase the safety perimeter, remain until I give the order to leave, understood?" Seto asked, his voice a tad cold.

"Understood, Captain Steele out," The Captain of the guard replied.

Seto sighed softly as he continued on, revving his speeder bike into full throttle. His eyes narrowed as he sensed several hostile beings a few blocks away, quickly shortening the distance he saw them up ahead. It was a large amount of pirates, Seto quickly counted up to seven in total. Jumping off he quickly moved to hide himself as he awaited for his senses to stretch out even further and detect any enemies unseen by his own physical eyes. There's an eighth, unseen behind the back cloud cars Seto quickly refocused himself. He couldn't defend himself against eight attackers as well as set up any counter attacks, that he knew the extent of his limits. Sighing, an annoying habit he just realized, he slowly stood up into a crouching position as he moved closer to the group of pirates. Pulling out his blaster he readied himself for his attack, noticing the first two pirates standing ahead of a speeder car and the next three behind that speeder car as well as in-between another speeder. He moved closer, moving meter per meter, hiding behind cover reaching about five meters away from the first five pirates. he throw out his palm and focused his force into pushing the first speeder car to smash into the back three pirates. Seto jumped forward, his Training Saber in his left hand and his blaster in his right as he aimed carefully knowing to make the first two shots of his surprised enemies count.

 

[Ronan Nakasla]

The road went on. His senses were wavering. He could feel it. Rather than an inexorable, unstoppable ability to feel, the world was coming through in broken waves like corrupted data. His brow furrowed in frustration, and then he felt a tremor. Not through the ground, but through the Force. It was as though someone hit the on switch after keeping it in the middle with the light flickering. Ash's mind was overflowed with what he'd been blinded to for most of this time, and he gritted his teeth against the assault of life that was truly there. Among that snare he was caught in, he found what he was looking for: the pirate leader. Sigma stood straight, and set one foot in front of the other. He attuned himself to this wave of exposure and took full advantage of it while it was there. One foot in front of the other. He went on, with his purpose here restored, and the scent caught. He pulled on the heart strings of that poor soul's connection to the Force. He held on like a rope that led straight to his target. It was only a matter of time now, and nothing but full Force deadness could make him lose the trail.

 

[Barkt Melan]

Drev'stan
NPCs Nallai Fey'ra and Lassan

She woke up in an alleyway, pain shooting through her body. As she tried to sit up, fire seemed to shoot through her shoulder, and she slumped down again.As she slipped back out of consciousness, she saw a tall form walk towards her. She passed out, the only thought on her mind that she had failed. Barkt was gone forever.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The old Twi'lek slipped through the street, watching the pirates go by. His powers were all but gone. The situation down here was bleak. Riots, raids, and other problems ran rampant after the Rapture. It seemed the ACA had finally shown up to try and change things. He hoped it worked, this place could use it. He sighed, letting the limp form in his arms slack for a moment. They were almost there. She would be safe, he knew that. After that... he wasn't sure. Maybe he'd go kill someone. Perhaps he could drive the pirates off.

Perhaps he could somehow save those he lost.

 

[Rhaec'Teth]

Bothawui
Drev'stan; Rooftop

​

Rioters on the streets. Pirates in the skies. Chaos across the world. Bothawui had become a large target following the disappearance of billions from the galaxy. As the influence of governments shrunk the lawlessness of worlds grew. Now there was no where safe. Pirates kept at bay by the military had emerged from the black to take advantage of events that no one and nothing could take control of. Chaos was not without opportunity though which is what lead him to this world. Bothawui. The Assassin was a ghost. In the past he'd occasionally done work at the behest of the One Sith but credits were the only way to ensure his loyalty. It seemed a decent assumption that a sum of credits were responsible for his appearance here; he chose this as the right time to complete his mission by taking advantage of all the chaos that had engulfed this world...

...Drev'stan was on fire. Figuratively if not literally in some parts. The Capital City of Bothawui was a prime location for business the likes of which stretched into the galactic market. Ronan had perched himself on a rooftop. Camouflage Armor ensured that he remained largely invisible, blending in with the background and insulated from various optics such as thermal, beneath that was a Terentatek Body Glove which would add to his defensive capabilities and imbedded into the flesh of his chest a Taozin Amulet. He was a literal ghost in most senses of the word. Right now all that ghost was doing was crouching down on a rooftop and watching a building only a short distance away deciding on what the best course of infiltration would be...

...in his capable hands he held a modified E-11s Blaster Rifle modified and outfitted with a long range zoom scope for use as a sniper rifle. At present he used that zoom scope to track the movements of targets in the vicinity and confines of the building he was observing. Everyone was on high alert even the corporations. The ACA were exerting their will and attempting to regain control of the world only adding to the chaos. Now was the time and the place was the PharmaTech Offices on Bothawui. The Assassin waited, he let his zoom scope do the work as he zoomed closer onto a target, his thumb brushed the trigger of the rifle but didn't press it yet...​

​

Spoiler: Disclaimer

The following is going to be an attack on the PharmaTech building located on Bothawui. As PharmaTech is an ATC subsidiary I'm letting you know so that you can provide opposition if you desire.

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

 

[Raziel]

Secure Research Facility
Outskirts of Breil
NPC Sergeant Do'tar

“Freeze!” Do’tar screamed at the top of his lungs as he burst through the door. They could have just gone in guns blazing, and stunned the remaining four soldiers before they could put up a fight. However, after a few minutes of observation they had become relatively certain they could handle the remaining group.

They did not “freeze”.

Instead they immediately went for weapons. Do’tar’s first two shots hit his target in the shoulder and head. The man went limp and the pistol fell from his grip. His carbine slewed around, ready to hit his second target.

Damn but he moved fast. His target ducked and rolled and was into cover, Do’tar’s stun bolt screeched just wide of the mark. Three of their targets were down, just that last one still operating.

“You’re on your own, surrender!” he called.

“Feth off!” came a curt reply, which was quickly followed by a pair of hastily aimed blaster bolts. Well that just wasn't polite.

 

[Micah Talith]

Bothawui
PharmaTech
[member="Ronan Dyre"]

The Void had opened up and the dead came spilling out.

For a Trandoshan named Sue, this was just another day on the job. Well, not really, more like it was more filled with droids and the dead than the living. But this was okay, because at the very least, he could make up his score with the Scorekeeper.

All that he was required to do was make sure everything went well at this particular branch of PharmaTech.

For now, he would maintain video surveillance around the factory to ensure that the gates would hold. Several Hegemonic Automaton droids would patrol the surrounding area, but honestly, who would be interested in Pharma Tech when it was the end of the 'Verse!

Or so he thought...

 

[Rhaec'Teth]

Rooftop adjacent to the PharmaTech Compound
Bothawui

​

...up on the rooftop Ronan remained, cloaked by his Camoflauge Armor and assessing his target via the rangefinger that his E-11s had been outfitted with. Initial observation revealed only the basics to the Assassin which where the gates that lead into the facility as well as the Droids patrolling the perimeter. Besides what he could see Ronan made the assumption that cameras lined the perimeter as well though he felt confident that his armor would conceal him as long as it remained operational. Breathing slowly he continued to wait knowing that he, almost literally, had all the time in the world at the moment. The Droids made their rounds, made them a second time and then made them a third time while Ronan waited all so that he could learn their their patterns and time them. Then came their fourth round...

...Ronan adjusted his scope so that he could zero in on a pair of droids that were making their rounds just past the gate leading into the PharmaTech Factory. He waited. Allowing them to move into what looked like a shaded area with limited visibility beyond the gate. Once the Droids had moved into position Ronan's chest would rise, he took aim and allowed his breathing to steady him, then as he exhaled slowly he'd have squeezed the trigger of his E-11s to make a headshot. If there were no surprises a flash of blaster fire should have torched the droids head and dropped it while limited recoil from the E-11s allowed Ronan to recover quickly and take aim a second time...

...the Assassin thrived when he was allowed to take a measured shot like his first. His accuracy was exceptional. A rushed shot suffered less than someone might expect as well. Zeroing in on the second droid falling the dispatch of the primary target Ronan squeezed the trigger again in quick succession counting on the fact that the Droid, like a human, would likely require even a moment to process exactly what had happened. During that time Ronan would fire two shots with the first aimed into the center mass of the droid, an easy target, the second would follow aimed higher for the head like the first and allow for a split second of focus to ensure the second droid was also decommissioned...

...an E-11s holds six shots, a trade off after its conversion into a sniper rifle, which meant Ronan had three left however like any professional he carried extra ammunition. Once the shots were made he had to move quickly and standing he'd move back, way from the ledge of the roof, so that he wouldn't be spotted. At least for now...​

​

[member="Sue"]

 

[Prime]

The unit comprehended gunfire from the rooftop. Sending two smaller droids to protect Alana Flag, Prime was watching the fire on the roof.

The blonde female fleshling was not noticing it. Prime was. The unit wanted permission to break free of the current program to eliminate the enemy run times. To wear the enemy run times lifeless skin as a suit. A suit of terror and shock. One to prove to enemies that droids were just as deadly as fleshlings.

Looking up to check the fire above head again.

“Fleshing-Flag. Enemy runtimes located above the building.”

[member="Ronan Dyre"] [member="Sue"]

 

[Raziel]

Secure Research Facility
Outskirts of Breil
NPC Sergeant Do'tar

A blaster bolt went close enough that Do'tar could smell burnt hair. He growled under his breath and rolled sideways a few times to try and get a better angle.

"Maybe try again louder boss, not sure he heard you?" one of his squad replied with a laugh. Just another days on the job for the lads.

"Maybe send him a holo mail!" called another before firing a few cover shots. Do'tar ignored them, he knew they were actually trying to draw the last enemy's attention.

He took the opportunity to lithely get out of cover and advance a few metres.

"Maybe send a message by frag grenade?"

"Experimental weapons remember?"

"Oh yeah!"

The infiltrators leapt out from over to fire again, only to find Do'tar's blaster pressed against the side of his head.

"Time for a little chat. Drop it."

Four on one, the outcome had never really been in doubt.