Private Raid of Ilum

[Dyre Redwave]

Dyre sighed as his ship landed upon the frozen surface of Ilum. Just because he had cold weather gear and happened to find snow pretty didn't mean that he enjoyed working in it.

As with most of his adventures since returning to consciousness he had been motivated to come here by the prospect of wealth. Rumor had it, that pirates had taken up residence in one of Ilums long abandoned Jedi temples. According to his source, these pirates were quite good at their profession. Good pirates got wealthy and Dyre was intent upon making their wealth, whatever it might be, his own. He placed his hand on the pilot's shoulder stating "we'll make this quick." Before turning and exiting the cockpit.

As he reached the cargo hold he found that the group of ten he had chosen for this expedition had already gathered and donned their cold weather suits as well. This wasn't their first encounter with pirates and it would no doubt not be there last. He inspected the men to insure that all seals in their armor were secure, the last thing they needed would be to start losing body heat in this weather

Content that all was well, with the flip of a switch Dyre lowered the ramp and the men ventured out into the frozen wasteland, rifles at the ready.

Dyre followed the team's navigator as they began their hike. With any luck they would be back before sundown, with a full cargo hold and a warm meal in their stomachs.

Myrium Okar

 

[Myrium Okar]

Myrium had agreed to come along with the military detachment for reasons of his own, ones he kept to himself. When word had filtered through the rest of the Agents of Chaos that this operation was being planned for Ilum of all places, Myrium had volunteered himself to come along as support. While the soldiers were going after the riches held within the temple, Myrium was going after something far more valuable. Maybe only to him in this war-torn galaxy, but something he would never let pass up.

Within the Jedi Temple he had heard there was an ancient force technique that the Jedi here had developed before simply vanishing one day. This fact intrigued him greatly, and Myrium was intent on discovering all that this temple had to offer him, and the Blackguard. The pirates were a nuisance that had to be removed first, however. Glancing down briefly at the saberstaff on the ground next to where he was meditating, Myrium was certain he would be able to lend a hand as needed.

As the group began to set out, Myrium pulled the hood of his jacket over his ears and pulled a small cloth over his face. It was time to get moving.
Dyre Redwave

 

[Dyre Redwave]

Dyre decided to break the silence. The new guy seemed competent enough, or so it seemed to him. He wasn't one of them but he had still managed to be prepped and ready in a timely fashion and no jokes had been made in relation to antique dealers. This alone made them more tolerable than most though this was a low bar to beat.

"so... new guy" Dyre asked, turning his gaze to their guest" what exactly are you are looking for in this deadend world. I know what we are after, you, on the other hand, confuse me."

As he spoke, their trail began to decline and the navigator pointed to a large opening into the side of a mountainous rock wall. He hated climbing and was genuinely thrilled to see that they could go through the mountain as opposed to over it.

 

[Myrium Okar]

Myrium was silent for several seconds after Dyre Redwave spoke to him, his eyes glancing across the frozen wilderness they were crossing. The mountain they were drawing closer to every step they took was becoming a potential obstacle, though the guide showed them a way through the mountain. Only when they began to head towards the opening did Myrium finally begin to speak, his voice quiet in the echoing passage.

"This Temple we are going to, there are certainly relics held within. Relics that I would be interested in getting my hands on. At the same time, though, if the pirates we are hunting have done anything to harm them..." Myrium trailed off as he glanced backward at the rest of the squad, his hands folded into the pockets of his jacket. Myrium was not much a military man himself. Born and raised in a merchant family, the closest Myrium had ever come to soldiers like this had been the hired security aboard the merchant fleet. Ever since his rescue by the Agents of Chaos, he had been forced to endure many things he was not used to, or ever thought he would be facing.

Now, however, it all seemed like it would begin to pay off...

 

[Dyre Redwave]

Dyre smiled at the man's insinuation. "Killing people for defacing some relic solves no problem." He said with a gentle laugh. "A pirate, when dead, is worth nothing, a pirate with a pulse and a collar on his neck on the other hand... that has a value."

As he continued forward, their destination became clearer, though snow covered the mountain, a structure carved into the stone in days long ago could be seen. Though he held no love for the Jedi, they did seem to have a knack for residing in beautiful structures. In his youth he had seen the temple on Coruscant many times and later it had been refurbished to be the Imperial Palace, but those days were long since gone.

"Tell me" he asked his traveling companion more to kill time than from any real interest. "What makes you think that your artifact will still be here, how do you know someone else hasn't gotten here first."

 

[Myrium Okar]

Myrium grimaced beneath his mask, waving his hand through the air briefly to push a large snow pile out of the way using the force. The soldier had some logic behind his words, though they lacked refinement and a view on the long term. "You are not wrong. For the next twenty years that collared pirate might make some credits, do some work that is valuable. In the end though they will die, their name unremembeeed and their body rotting in an unmarked grave. These relics however...they are invaluable. If properly kept they will outlast us all, and contain knowledge that could put the small amount of credits you make from the pirate to shame."

Myrium fell silent as they came to the temple finally, taking in the soaring spire architecture the Jedi were so fond of. Folding his arms across his chest, he turned his head slightly, addressing the soldiers final question. "All my studies indicate that which I seek was inside this temple when it was abandoned. Lacking any other information, I have to assume that it still remains in the temple vault. If not, maybe i can find records inside of where the relic has gone."

Dyre Redwave

 

[Dyre Redwave]

Dyre decided not to question the young man's sense of value, no use trying to make them want what he himself wanted. Different desires was what made it possible for them to work together and so there was no reason to ruin the dynamic.

At the cavernous entrance to the temple, Dyre ordered his men to move in slowly. The troopers conducted a quick yet thorough examination of the entry hall, along with the connected chambers and upon discovering there were no enemies present they reconvened in the central chamber. Dyre called the men together save for two who were guarding the passage further inward.

"Alright Marines" he said, voice expressing confidence and a firm grasp of the situation though he kept his voice low. "We do this the right way. Always work in teams of two or more. This place is made of stone and we dont want it to collapse on us so no explosives unless absolutely necessary. Keep things quiet if we can. Easier to drop one or two at a time than deal with all of them at once. Dont forget to collar the ones you drop immediately if it is possible to do so. Dont want them waking up. Everybody understand?"

The men in unison offer a firm though whispered "yes sir" and soon begin slowly and quieting making their way down the hall, clinging to what cover is afforded to them by the stonework of the walls and ornamental statues.


Dyre turned to Myrium as his men began to move. "I suspect the vault you are looking for will be located centrally, it is the most secure location. They are probably keeping their ships in the upper levels for easy access. Once we find the vault you are free to begin scrounging for your relics. We can deal with the remaining pirates."

Myrium Okar

 

[Myrium Okar]

Myrium reached up and pulled the mask off his face as he stepped into the temple with the rest of the troopers. He did not pay them much attention as he glanced around the interior of the temple, a small smile spreading across his face. He had never been inside a Jedi Temple before, and the first experience was turning out to be something he greatly enjoyed. He could see the telltale signs of the pirates' habitation, garbage, and other refuse laying around, marring the beauty of the temple.

As Dyre Redwave issued orders to his men, Myrium turned to look back at the soldier, the smile falling from his face. He could not forget the reason he was here with the soldiers. Shaking his head, Myrium unclipped the saberstaff from his hip, twirling it briefly in his hand. "I will support your efforts in dealing with the pirates. There is no need to rush things here. The vault will still be there when we are all safe, and the pirates are all dealt with."

 

[Dyre Redwave]

The kid had earned a bit of respect from Dyre. He was less than thrilled though that he wanted to fight, more because of what his overrated fusion cutter would do to his wares than any concern for his wellbeing.

Dyre and his men set about their task. Room after room had been clear as they leapfrogged through the large hallway. When they had completed their sweep, it was confirmed that this entire floor was nothing more than a trash dump for them. With the floor cleared, Dyre tapped one of the marines to come and inspect the second level with him.

As they neared the top of the stairs they heard movement. Peering around the corner he saw a red twilek scooping trash off a repulsorlift and onto the floor. She was clad in a heavy fur lined coat and appeared to have a blanket wrapped around her lekku. Her face was very attractive and possessed dark green markings.

The trooper who had accompanied him turned to his captain and asked "plan?"

Dyre nodded and whispered "Cover me". He peered out once more, inspecting the dimly lit halls, and, seeing that she was facing away, he made his move. First stealthily, Dyre crept behind her, but wirh half the distance covered broke into a sprint. His wild charge caught her completely unaware and before she could turn or reach for her weapon, his rifle was pressed firmly onto her abdomen.

She stifled a scream and raised her hands, recognizing that fighting back was not an option and calling for help would likely see her shot. Dyre took her blaster from her hip and motioned for her to move towards the stairs and she complied. She was then lead downstairs by Dyre with the other trooper following behind and keeping an eye above them.

When they returned, Dyre quickly shouldered his rifle and frisked her. His search uncovered nothing and he ordered her to sit on the floor. He kneeled down beside her and began to interrogate her.

"How many of you are there" he asked.

Though he had expected her to resist his questioning, she instantly complied. "There are roughly 150 pirates, half that number of hostages. They also have some crazy Gen'dai they found living nearby locked up." The Twi'lek offered without any semblance of hesitation and no indication that she is lying.

"Tell me about the layout. How big is this place?" Dyre inquires still somewhat shocked that she was offering everything so freely.

"20 Levels, though we just store scrap, trash and throw away dead hostages on one through five. Six to 8 have collapsed and you can only access the stairs. 9 Has a bunch of scary looking sculptures and people seem to think it his haunted. Tenth is collapsed, 11 through 17 are housing for the crew with having partial collapses preventing accessibility to some rooms. 18 is the hanger. We store our loot on the 19th and the 20th is where we store food... I have really tried to be honest so would you please not kill me?" As she speaks, he voice becomes more and more nervous. It is obvious that she isn't a hardened cutthroat and that she is very concerned about her own mortality.

"I'm not going to kill you girl" Dyre said and she let out an audible sigh of relief. "But I do think it is time you took a nap." Pulling a stun collar from a clip on his waste he slides it around her neck and she falls to the ground limp. She lays on the floor, motionless save for breathing and the occasional movement of her eyes.

Dyre turned to the others. "that was pretty anticlimactic" Dyre said, shaking his head. "Normally we have to beat the answers out."

He motions for all to follow him as he begins moving up the stairs and turns to his young companion.

As they begin to make their way of the stairs the silence is softly broken as he speaks. "It never ceases to amaze just how creepy the Jedi are." Dyre whispered, shaking his head. "Girly said the place was haunted though, sounds like the kind of stuff the bastards would be into, maybe it has to do with your relic?."

 

[Myrium Okar]

Myrium was quiet as he and the soldiers made their way through the Temple. He hung towards the back of the group, staying out of the way of the soldiers as they carried out their military procedures. It was not something Myrium was accustomed to, so he did not really try to help. He did what he could to stay out of their way, remaining in the shadows to best avoid detection of any who might see him. His hand rested at all times on or near the lightsaber at his hip, ready to move should the need arise.

As they came to the stairs and Dyre Redwave brought back the Twi'lek, Myrium could only feel a sense of pity as the collar was put around her neck. She did not appear to be a pirate like he was expecting, but a servant, or possibly, already a slave. As she crumbled to the ground, he hid the brief flash of rage that flowed through him. Restraint and Control. The only outward sign of his internal struggle was a brief acceleration to his breathing, though he had gotten it all back under control by the time he was asked a question.

"It is possible. I do not know the exact properties and nature of the relic hidden here. I will have to study it in depth to come to any conclusions."

 

[Dyre Redwave]

Dyre got the suspicion that his guest disapproved of his actions though it did not concern him. People disapproved of many things, it was only when they interfered that it was a problem.

As they climbed. Dyre determined that the Twilek had been true to her word in describing the floors. Five levels of trash and three levels where the buildings innards had collapsed blocking off anything but the stairway.

As he climbed the stairs from the 8th floor to the 9th he felt the air grow cold and he felt uneasy. Arriving at the landing of the 9th floor the way inward was blocked by a large door. Statues reminiscent of those he had seen on the Jedi Temple of Coruscant in his youth stood as eternal motionless guardians on either side of the entryway.

"We can't risk not searching this place" Dyre said to his companion quietly. "Otherwise we risk getting getting hit from behind, cant take that chance." Dyre moved over and began to listen at the door, hearing only the whistling of the wind inside. This hardly constituted a search though.

"This is your specialty kid" Dyre stated, turning to the young man. "You check this level out and we will shadow you to provide covering fire if necessary. We are marines, not I inquisitors, we aren't trained for this."

Myrium Okar

 

[Myrium Okar]

Myrium did not pause as he continued up the stairs past the soldiers, coming to rest his head against the door for a moment, listening. Taking a step back, he raised a gloved hand and gave a slow pulling motion, and the door inched open slightly. A sudden rush of cold air flew through the opening, and Myrium quickly reached to pull his hood and mask back up to cover his face. With the door open just a bit more, Myrium moved forward, slipping inside with ease. Just inside, Myrium ducked behind a large pillar, his pitch-black clothing blending easily with the shadows as he slowly began to move about the floor.

There was trash on this floor as well, though not nearly as much as the floors below. Myrium was able to navigate through it with ease, moving silently through the seemingly abandoned halls. Just as he was about to round a corner, however, two pirates emerged from one of the rooms. They did not immediately see Myrium hiding in the shadows, but he could not risk just letting them pass by. They might circle around, or get smart and see that the door was open now. Taking a deep breath, he rushed forward.

He did not draw his lightsaber, instead preferring to strike with his bare hands as he leaped between the two pirates from the shadows. His left elbow flew out and connected with one of the pirate's noses, while Myrium swept his leg underneath the other pirate's leg, sending both men crumbling to the ground. Rising from his dropped position, Myrium spun around and delivered a kick to the jaw of the pirate with a newly broken nose, knocking him out in the hit. Myrium continued his momentum, placing a hand on the ground and using it to pivot his whole body around and delivering a second kick to the groin of the second pirate as he tried to pull himself up. He let out a strangled cry as Myrium drove forward, grabbing the man's arm and shoulder and rolling over him, using his momentum and the pirate's weight to spin them both around. Grunting, Myrium came up from the roll with the pirate held loosely in his hands and tossed him into the room he had just emerged from. Myrium quickly dragged the other pirate in there as well, before closing the door as quietly as he could.

End to end, the little fight lasted less than six seconds, and Myrium was fairly sure that no other pirates had heard them. Glancing back, Myrium nodded to the soldiers before he continued on, pushing ahead to ensure the way ahead was clear.

Dyre Redwave

 

[Dyre Redwave]

Dyre and a handful of his men followed the eager companion. Stopping only long enough to fit collars around the necks of the pirates. Dyre looked them over briefly. They had garbage guns, trash armor and looked intimidating without the ability to back it up. Indeed, pirates hadn't changed much since his time.

He had been impressed with the young man's skills it showed natural skill though it lacked the refinement of decades of practice. This kid definitely had some potential, he hoped he wouldn't waste it working for some fancy museum.

He disliked this place. Even as a kid when he had seen the Jedi Temple on Coruscant he had found it rather eery and being here was somewhat unsettling though he pushed forward none the less.

'Soon', he assured himself they would be counting their loot over hot coffee and they could pick up a nice meal before meeting back up with the others. For now, he focused, his rifle forward and his mind on task.

Myrium Okar

 

[Myrium Okar]

Coming to a halt at the end of the hall, Myrium crouched down against the wall, taking a second to glance around the corner. Spread out in a room much like the one they had entered were perhaps a dozen pirates. They were armed and clothed much the same as others, but he could not really hope to take them on all at once quietly like he had been doing.

Heading back down the corridor, Myrium came to a halt near Dyre Redwave and his men, signaling for them to wait. "Got about twelve of them around the corner up there. Not really a threat, but they are spread out enough that I won't be able to take them on one at a time without others seeing. Seems we may have to go loud." At the words Myrium reached down and unclipped his lightsaber from his waist, spinning the black cylinder in his hand once or twice as he waited.

 

[Dyre Redwave]

“Damn” Dyre muttered shaking his head in disappointment. He had hoped to keep the process quick and clean, but this would throw a wrench into the equation. They would be fighting a literal uphill battle to continue taking the temple. “One moment” he whispered before informing his men at the stairway of the change of plans and insisting they prepared for company. A few short minutes later he was informed that they were prepared for company.

“Alright kid” Dyre said his attention on the young man, his men and himself, instinctually checking their arms. “Combat rule number one… no fair fights” though whispered, his tone was good natured as he and several of his men began to pull flashbangs from their belts and slowly approached the cross in the path ahead. “These should let us take most of the alive at least and definitely throw off their aim a bit”.

Dyre began to countdown slowly. “3… 2… 1...NOW” operating with an almost unnatural degree of coordination Dyre and two of his men flung the small explosives down the hall in the direction of the pirates and a few moments the sharp cracks of three flashbangs detonating paired with the flashes of bright white light could be seen around the corner.

Dyre stepped back, motioning for his companion to lead the way as they continued to clear this section of the temple.

Tag: Myrium Okar