Rangers Lead the Way - SJO Dominion of Antar

[Roona Osmari]

Objective: 3
[member="Cassius Droma"]| [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] | [member="Kat Decoria"] | [member="Mariya Fleischer"]

Roona moved out of the way, allowing the last to be brought out behind her. For a moment her green eyes shifted towards their wrecked ship. Well, this would complicate matters. At least they were prepared, this was a survival exercise, after all. Her own pack was well stocked, the strap of which hung around her shoulder.

Unfortunately for Roona, it seemed that her comment had drawn attention.

Turning slightly, she spotted a blonde on approach. She blinked as the woman said she would 'fix' her wound, and the ranger drew back slightly as the blonde's palms reached out. But, in the end, she allowed the treatment to proceed. It was an odd sensation – a slight feeling of warmth and then the pain was gone. And when it was done, she was left with a very mild tingling feeling where the wound had been.

Reaching up, Roona felt for the cut, but it was gone indeed. There wasn't even a trace of tenderness or pain anymore. And, the bleeding had stopped. In all her time with the rangers, this was the first time she'd ever been healed in such a way.

“Thank you,” Roona replied, “I'm Roona.”

A woman of few words, she was reluctant to say more than that. But, she did offer Mariya a brief, rare smile.

“There are probably others than need your help.” Roona nodded towards some of the other injured on the ground.

 

[Glade]

Objective 4: BYOO. Boo. To. You.
Location: Antar 4
Solo Post

Watching out over the mountain tops from her tent, sitting on a comfortable cushion, was Glade. Alone. Not saying much. Humming to the wind and the weather howling against the sides of her small tent. Always windy. She was weaving a small necklace, one of a few she kept to herself. Glade's hum was unusual, her depression outside of a fighter craft was usually pronounced, what had set her off on an upward kick of emotion, who knows.

Well, one person knew. A certain white-haired older Echani inside the confines of her tent making dresses. As she often did. Stitching and weaving in her own way, her petite fingers at work matching the younger woman’s. Glade’s voice carried a particular note, far enough to stir up some air ahead of the two of them, but neither said a word. The Echani were not talkative, and Glade didn’t say much either.

Eshan’s exodus hadn’t just affected the locals, the civilians and other people fleeing the action. It had also stirred something long dormant, and perhaps better left encased in her tombs beneath the world where she had laid, but the galaxy just couldn’t leave well enough alone.

Out stepped Kiara Keth, sister of Raien Keth, hand on Glade’s shoulder, her white hair picking up in the breeze. One of the first natural skies she had seen for almost a thousand years. She blinked and stretched her arms upward, taking in the view. It was a welcome home to be continued at another time. On her own terms. Her eyes had an oddly yellowish tint to them as they rested to look upon Glade’s shoulder, perhaps from her long crystal sleep, perhaps from something worse.

[member="Darth Proeliator"]
Foreshadowing

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahyvWheMRkg

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

Location: Somewhere on Antar
Objective: 3
Feeling: It really isn't my fault we got lost this time!

It ached, every part of her body hurt, the fabric of her harness cutting into her shoulders, as a groan slipped from the Jedi's lips as her eyes fluttered open. The pain might be the first thing she noticed, but the tree branch driven through the front of their transport registered pretty quickly. The next thing that registered was the gaping hole in the side of the transport, and the fact that she was looking at it from the outside, not exactly the comfortable view she'd been enjoying moments before their altercation with the ground. That didn't look like it was planned, this whole situation didn't look like it was any good at all. Asaraa's ears were still ringing from the impact, as she sucked in a tortured breath, wincing at the pain in her chest. So, crash-landing, that wasn't a good start to the excursion at all, definitely not what she'd been hoping for.

The girl reached up with one hand, scrabbling with the buckle on her harness desperately as tears of pain clouded her vision, transforming her view into a blurred mess of shapes pressing at one another. A groan of exasperation slipped from the pink-haired Jedi's lips as she gave up, letting her hand fall away as she reached you through the force, grasping at the harness and pulling at it, hearing it tear away with a tortured screech of metal. The way was clear and the girl slid forward, a decision she immediately came to regret as pain shot through her body, a louder cry of pain escaping her this time. Still, at least she could move right now, and there were still the voice-over by the shuttle. Forcing herself to her feet Asaraa wrapped one arm around her chest, staggering forward, just focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. Blinking the tears away she staggered into the clearing, giving the survivors gathered there a small nod as she rested her back against the side of the shuttle, sliding down to the ground, "So yeah that healing...I think I'm just...broken ribs...just gonna lie here for a while." Maybe she'd take a nap, sleep sounded pretty good right now.

[member="Mariya Fleischer"] | [member="Roona Osmari"] | [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Cassius Droma"] | [member="Kat Decoria"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Objective: 1 - Prepare for mission
Location: With Main Silver QRF. - Corridors of The Concord
Assets: 1st Special Tactics Group, The Concord

Calderon let out another laugh after the shadow made a comment about their daily routines. Honestly, the commander couldn't think of many times where the situation wasn't dangerous when they were called. He didn't want to go as far to say that trouble followed in the Radama Raiders footsteps, but it certainly seemed that way.

"Stick around some more, you'll see just how fun the rangers can be."

"You're damn right we're fun!" Specialist Lowder's voice audibly chimed in by the time the small group had moved down several corridors. The ranger's engineering and sapping specialist had been patiently waiting by a few crates designated 'Antarian Ranger.' Inside were a few of the commanders' units weapons. Blaster rifles, slug throwers, hold-out options, and a single rotary-cannon for Lieutenant Harris to carry onboard the hostile ship, just in case things got really interesting. The Specialist was waiting with a group of four other rangers, including [member="Tyrell Caphey"], a medical specialist that Valkren had picked out from Kashyyyk's Base. All the rangers were already armored from head to toe in their Katarn plating, helmet's visors illuminating a bright blue to show the commander and lieutenant that everything was functioning normally.

This made the commander and lieutenant follow suit, dropping their helmets on top of their heads to follow in their comrade's footsteps. Their helmets quickly sealed into place with their combat plating, assuring that the operators would be somewhat safe if a firefight was to break out.

"So, what's the plan then, commander?" It was easy to tell the specialist put emphasis on the new rank, even though his slightly altered voice through the communicator.

Valkren held up a gloved finger for one moment, listening to a transmission coming from Kashyyyk's breath. The notion of him owing a drink to the Houk unit's commanding officer caused yet another smirk to pop up underneath Valk's visor, shaking his head as he re-focused to listen to the transmission from [member="Jessica Med-Beq"].

He removed a communicator from his utility belt, tossing it to the ground in the middle of the rangers and jedi knight. Directly in the middle of the corridor, a small holo-image of the Ambition, the flagship of this little blockade.

With a quick tap of his finger at the projection, a red circle highlighted the cargo-hold.

"Our team and whatever assets that are coming from Kashyyyk's Breath will meet onboard this ship. As for our team, we're small in numbers so we'll be taking a spiral class assault ship from the bay of The Concord. With any luck, the fleet could pass off us boarding their ship as a warning shot towards the blockade. Its either that, or they'll know we're coming as soon as we temporarily push through their shields. Intel seems to suggest the hostages are in the cargo hold. Primary objective is the safety of those hostages, so I want less-than-lethal being used as our main use of force, boys and girls."

"Hear that, big guy? Probably shouldn't bring your toy huh?" Specialist Lowder elbow-jabbed Harris, teasing him at his probable lack of use with his Z-6 rotary cannon.

"Hmph," was the only reply Lowder got out of the lieutenant.

"However- If one of these miners so much as points a weapon at you- Do not hesitate. These people have already threatened the hostages, so do not take them lightly. How Copy?"

With a resounding 'solid copy' being received by the other rangers, he'd give a nod in assurance. The commander then turned over to the Jedi Knight that had been assigned to tag along with them. "Should introduce yourself, Knight. The rest of you, load up. We'll meet in the bay in five."

He quickly turned to send out another transmission, this one to Kashyyyk's Breath and Med-Beq.

"Any way you could provide some kind of distraction for us to board? We'll be on the clock if they see a team of rangers climbing aboard."

[member="Vertigo"] | [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Tyrell Caphey"] | [member="Celiana"]

 

[Cassius Droma]

They were certainly a little worse for wear. Soft moans of anguish echoed around the camp as those wounded were being attended to. As Cassius was checking the status of a food bag, he noticed a pink-haired woman sit against the shuttle and mutter something about broken ribs before starting to close her eyes. “Hey!” Cassius barked a little harsher than he intended – this was a rather tense situation, however. He went to the woman’s side, his hand hovering over where the pain was centered. “Don’t go to sleep – whatever you do, don’t go to sleep…”

He had no idea whether she’d sustained massive internal bleeding and was dying on the spot. Regardless, he began his assessment through the Force. The bone had been broken all the way through, alright – it would need to be mended quickly. A slight tinge of blue light surrounded his hand as he began a preliminary healing process to get her stable. After a few moments, the ribs were merely fractured rather than broken – he’d managed to rebuild the bone somewhat, but his limited skills prevented him from doing anything else.

“Everyone alright?” a booming voice asked from the treeline, and Cassius stood abruptly. It wasn’t a voice he recognized, and it wasn’t coming from anyone in their camp. Slowly, a group of five emerged from the trees and brush: two humans, a Gotal, a Sullustan, and a light-skinned Zabrak. They each wore utilitarian blue jumpsuits with matching blue caps, and brown leather jackets with light fur collars. All had packs of various sizes on their backs, and AR-1 blaster rifles slung over their shoulders.

“We saw the crash – figured we’d come by to check on you all,” the Gotal said, his voice being the one from before. He looked over to the Zabrak and nodded his head in the direction of the wounded. The Zabrak nodded back and stepped forward, reaching for a smaller pack on his hip that had a red cross stitched onto the front.

“We took some casualties, but looks like most of us made it,” Cassius spoke up, stepping over to the group. Since they had appeared, Cassius was trying to place where exactly he had seen their outfits from, and it finally clicked as he got closer: these were Antarian Rangers, but not like the Rangers that had accompanied them on the survival exercise, but ones that more resembled those from their first incarnations. “How did you guys end up out here?”

“We’re on a week-long hike – not unlike you, I’m guessing,” the Gotal explained before beginning to point to various members of his outfit. “I’m Captain Ryl, and that’s Patch,” the Zabrak, “Badger,” the human male, “Sharp,” the Sullustan, “and she’s Barrel,” the last was a human woman, a sharpshooter, by her build and weapons loadout. “Let us know if there’s any way we can help.”

“I’m Cassius, and trust me, we’re going to need it.”

[member="Roona Osmari"] | [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] | [member="Kat Decoria"] | [member="Mariya Fleischer"]

 

[Celiana]

Objective: 1 Head to the bay
Location: With Silver QRF
Assets: My Chest still isn't impressive enough?

Listening to Calderon's short briefing I smirked at the teasing between the rangers. When Calderon said I should introduce myself I inclined my head slightly and said "Pleasure to meet you all, Celiana Drayven Jedi Knight, specifically a Jedi Shadow." I wasn't sure how the rangers would feel with a Shadow among them...soldiers generally didn't like people that could simply vanish or with abilities like mine.

My brief introduction out of the way I checked over my weapons and ensured they were set to stun. I looked over the phrik plating covering my shins and knocked them against each other, solidly set it seemed. Ejecting the hook from my gauntlet, I reset it then tested the blade. Re-sheathing the blade I ensured my helm was sealed securely and then began pumping bass heavy electronic music. I'd turn it down when we launched for now though I was ready to go. Inclining my head respectfully I made my way towards the bay bumping my head to bass heavy music...

[member="Valkren Calderon"] ~ [member="Tyrell Caphey"]

 

[Vertigo]

Objective: #1 Hold on to your lunch.
Location: Aboard Vulcan-5 a Troop Transport
Current Status: Spinning out of control.
Post: #6
PCs: [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Valkren Calderon"] | [member="Celiana"] | [member="Silver Storyteller"]

Distraction? That was something a group of Houk’s could probably do well. Even inside a ship. The second shuttle launched as well to follow the first, both diverting closer toward the blockade and hostage situation, their fighter escort surrounding them. That rogue ship seemed a good choice for a distraction, not connected to the main fleet, if they could just get everyone’s eyes over their way.

How to do it without a shooting match which would endanger the hostages. Well they had just the Houk.

“Open all Comms.” Vertigo looked to the Major, “and do a pep talk.”

“Yeah big guy, pep talk ain’t gonna cut it.” Dreggs said, “no offense, sir,” he looked at the major.

Someone was going to get their head chewed off again sooner or later, but the Major smiled behind his armored face. “Get us in closer. Aim for that rogue ship, and have one of the fighters….”

[member="Valkren Calderon"] | [member="Celiana"] | [member="Silver Storyteller"] | [member="Jessica Med-Beq"]

“Copy that on the distraction concord, wait two mikes then launch, over.”

There was a brief pause as the pilots onboard got things ready.

"Control, requesting you back us up on this, we'll need your help to make it look loud." The ranger co-pilot signalled. ​[member="Jessica Med-Beq"]

The Vulcan-5 transport pulled its vector closer toward the Rogue ship, aiming in the direction of the Ambition flag ship beyond it. Not doing a thing, just aiming to pass by the rogue ship on the way to the actual hostage situation. Then all of a sudden the transport turned slightly, and one of the fighters tapped it on the rear near the engine port, the pilot made it look good, the engine flared, it sputtered, went on full blast and then went off entirely. Which meant the shuttle was spinning around with no power. The fighter pilot killed some of their controls, the shuttle killed the external illumination and they both tried going dark. Making it look good.

Then Vulcan-5 spoke on Comms, to absolutely everyone, all the ships at once. “WHERE THE HELL DID YOU LEARN TO FLY!” Major Vox had one more performance in him, “sorry sir you turned so fast that I…” “YOU WHAT, DECIDED TO GIVE US A HELPING HAND!” There were some Houk swear words exchange to sell the distraction. A fake mayday went out, to every single ship. [member="Jessica Med-Beq"]

The second shuttle was coming in to assist to, getting as much attention their way as possible. Vulcan-5 was actually spinning out of control in the direction of the flagship, just very slowly and a good distance away.

“Sorry Sir, just, if you just…”

“JUST WHAT? WAVE MY HANDS AND REWIND TIME, FIND SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT THE CHIT THEY ARE DOING PILOT? IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO?”

And so on. It was a distraction, an out of control shuttle craft calling for emergency aid, to all ships, best they could do without getting into a shooting match. That and have the fighter pilot eject nearby, just to sell it. Two maydays, one from an escape pod and one from a transport. Maybe [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] could make a big deal of it with emergancy craft, lots of activity, but that would be up to her to draw further attention to a loud and visible distraction. They couldn't get too close to where the hostages were, it was a fine balance without starting a shooting match.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Objective: 1
Allies: Jedi [member="Valkren Calderon"] @Celiana @Vertigo
Suspects: Red Hammer Mining Guild

"Mayday: we're losing control"

"Activate tractor beams! We shall stop the runaway shuttle before it causes any unwanted collateral damage! Weapons tight!"

Not only the Guild was distracted by this distress call from a shuttle, but the pirates also wanted in on their occupants, to shoot it down or to capture it. These pirates stopped attacking the Kashyyyk's Breath and instead fired a proton torpedo at it, while also being under attack by the forward rapid-fire turbolaser batteries as its target turned around. Yet the pilot, in its erratic flying, didn't realize that the Guild's point-defense was also actively tracking the proton torpedo, as well as the shuttle itself. But such erratic flying made the establishment of a lock-on more difficult for both torpedo and tractor beam. The Jedi also had medical craft on standby, and also passing to weapons tight condition meant that pirates, now positively identified as hostile, were themselves fired at by a volley of proton torpedoes launched from fighters. As for the Guild's demands, radio silence since the verdict of the tribunal wasn't yet rendered, plus it was big enough a distraction for the Guild not to pay attention to the Spiral en route to the flagship, but the flight was more dangerous because of the distraction. And maybe the pirates would turn against the Guild if they shoot down the runaway shuttle.

 

[Syd Celsius]

Objective: BYOO (Explore strange tomb)

Post: 4

It never ceased to amaze Syd just how many tombs were made by Sith, and just how many of them contained utterly savage and murderous threats. Its like their designers built them solely from the inspiration of half remembered comics and glitterstim.

Syd had been through and conquered nearly every type of tomb one could describe. Deadly roving bands of Sith Spawn? Check. Zombies? Check. (That category annoyed her most of all because Zombies were one of the few things that got under her skin.) Cunningly designed traps that nonetheless looked like some kid's idea of what was in a supervillain lair? Check, check, and fethin' check.

This tomb was the latter.

Syd stared up. Fire seemed to flow through Alchemized transparisteel pipes, each emptying out into a halo of fire over certain sections of a great brass and transparisteel maze greeting her, and [member="Willa Isard"] inside of a domed tomb depicting a red headed woman in a flowing white dress on one relief set into the wall to rhe east of her. A great sarcophagus lay at the center.

"This is a pyrokinetic's tomb...I...I've never seen a tomb actually devoted to such a thing..." Syd observed as she floated forward, looking for magical traps as she approached the maze entrance, a great stone sarcophagus at the center.

"Be very careful what you touch, all of you. Any part of this could have a magical booby trap in it..." Syd warned as she tried to remember a spell for occasions like this. After a moment of searching through three centuries of screaming in an amber void, it finally hit her...

(Plasmid Acquisition Theme plays)

(New Spell Learned!)

Spell: MAGICAL SIGHT

Spoiler

Casts spell upon both Self and other characters, allowing them to see magical related items and areas saturated with magic as a hazy green essence. Useful for detecting spells written in invisible ink, or magic based traps.

She turned, uttering the old spell she had learned at The Solar Praxeum Waving her hand at Willa and her companions.

"Ashla, give me and my allies the inner eye."

If they accepted the spells effects, their eyes would suddenly light with a harmless, painless green fire trailing out of their eyes...her own eyes lit with green flame and she stopped cold, immediately floating a little higher...

The whole area in and around the maze was like minefield, saturated with patches of green at key strategic points in and around the maze specifically designed to hinder movement...

 

[Willa Isard]

[member="Syd Celsius"]

"That is because most fire users return to the flame." There were few to none vahla sith lords who had tombs even though several had appeared with the one sith and more were strong darksiders. Isolda was a big example of this... vahla and even shapers tended to just become ash and scatter compared to many. "Most of us don't need tombs." She sneered a little but was crouching there as Lorna returned with her belt and weapons. The blastsaber and smgs were simple enough but she knew how to use them in cases and the toolkits she clasped on her wrists before testing them and making sure they were fully armed. "I could use the flames to move around, walking along them wouldn't be to hard, whatever is in the maze though we might want to make sure there are no explosives or things that will bring the tomb down around us.

 

[Sabine Galen]

Objective 2
Location: MOON
[member="Yuroic Xeraic"]| [member="Mykes Taff"] | [member="Sky'ito Yumi"] | [member="Seth Brackson"]

“Ah, erm...” Sabine gave Yuroic a stiff half-nod. The moment he mentioned her confidence, she inwardly felt like it all drained away. She hadn't wanted to take over completely, especially as she didn't know anyone here. “I'll, just get started then. If you want to explore a bit, that's fine, I think I can manage. You'll get a ping on your comm when the system is set up.”

She began to walk towards a wide open space. There were rocky peaks in the distance, and formations that might have been caves. Sabine squinted, wondering what strange secrets this moon held. Her eyes shifted towards the wreckage site. Who knew, maybe there would be something from the ancient ship that still survived. Sabine activated a small data pad and held it out to take some simple sensor readings.

At that moment, the ground began to rumble.

It was slight, fleeting... and gone almost as fast as it had started. Blinking, she knelt to quickly begin unpacking her equipment. With the seismometer on the ground, she began the process of bolting it down. It would be a few minutes and a bit of fiddling with the equipment before it was ready... she just hoped that the next seismic event didn't happen before then.

 

[Tyrell Caphey]

Objective: 1 - Prepare for mission
Location: Joining The Main Silver QRF. - Corridors of The Concord
Assets: 1st Special Tactics Group, The Concord

The half-squad of four rangers marched down the corridors in a steady pace, heavy boots against the metal floor and the strip light reflecting in their tinted t-visors of the originaly mandalorian inspirated helmet. This pack of rather misbehaved miners on strike did seem like a walk in the park for the rangers, considering what dangers they had faced in the past. But a ranger also knew to never underestimate an opponent. The recently promoted sergeant had his old companion, the ''Famos Mk-II'' particle beam rifle in a sling on his back, muzzle down. As always, the standard issue ranger field pistol sat safely in a right holster on his thigh.

He led the group down the corridors and closed in on commander Valkrens recognizeable voice, merging with them in an intersection.

''When aren't we on the clock, commander?''

A salute on the move to the commander and a nod to the others, confirming they were ready to get this mission going. The different armoured young woman bobbing her head to some kind of music were hard to miss and he shock away a second of confusion; a silver jedi, of course. Everyone had their tricks to prepare for battle. He gave her a greeting nod when they came up beside eachother on their way to the bay.

[member="Valkren Calderon"] [member="Celiana"]

 

[Roona Osmari]

Objective: 3
[member="Cassius Droma"]| [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] | [member="Kat Decoria"] | [member="Mariya Fleischer"]

Roona glanced to the young woman with pink hair, she looked like she was in sore shape. But, it seemed that she was being tended to by another of the Jedi. With her own wound mended, Roona turned her sharps eyes to their surroundings. Without a ship, it seemed they were going to need to find some shelter or at least an area suitable to set up some tents.

The wilderness around them was quite thick, there would also be the possibility they would need to defend themselves against the local wildlife. There was really no telling.

She took a quick walk, noting some of the cave structures up on the ridge. It would be a bit of a hike, and as she looked back towards their wounded – she knew that it might be difficult to get everyone up there. Though, there were some clear areas within the woods, perhaps a spot for a potential campsite. Roona did not want to stray too far, so she made her way back to the ship. When she did, she spotted several newcomers.

Her brows rose curiously.

Their style of dress was somewhat similar to her own, but somehow outdated. Their BDUs not quite as modern looking as her own were. But, as she grew closer... she recognized their insignia immediately.

“Antarian Rangers,” She said, looking them over.

Well, this was an interesting turn.

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

Objective 3: Survival
Location: Antar 4
Equipment: Ghost-class Armour, cloaking device, DC-17m Interchangeable Weapon System, Kyle Katarn's Lightsaber
Tags: [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Kat Decoria"]

The blonde nodded her head in agreement when [member="Roona Osmari"] reminded her of the rest of the passengers and crew who needed her help. Mariya had purposely chosen Roona as the first candidate to test out her healing abilities, since the injury on the forehead not different to treat. It was sort of a confidence booster for the Padawan, who felt more confident of her own abilities to provide treatment to the rest. Meanwhile, the pink haired lady had finally appeared and was suffering from fractured ribs. [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] looked pale while lying down against the shuttle and [member="Cassius Droma"] was quick to attend to her treatment. Mariya moved on the rest, trying her best to stop the bleeding on an open wound of a soldier when more voices rang out behind them.

"Antarian rangers?" she shot a look at Roona who had identified them aloud, deciding that the soldier probably knew more about their insignia than a newcomer like herself. At the very least, they could start moving some of the wounded away from the shuttle to avoid being caught in some random engine malfunction.

"Hey Captain Ryl. Perhaps you can provide some hands to move the injured? Appreciate the help."

Mariya waved at the tall Gotal who looked like he had no way to trim his bushy beard out in the wildness. The newcomers agreed to her request and soon the whole group was finally moving away from the debris. They would need to set up some place to rest after the disastrous start before night fall.

It was definitely survival training at the finest hour.

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Objective: 1 - Board the Ambition​

Location: With Strike Team - Spiral Class Assault Ship.
Assets: 1st Special Tactics Group, The Concord


In the short time it took the small seven-person strike team to make it to the Concord's bay and into their transportation, a flurry of reports had quickly found their way to the commander. Seemed like Kashyyyk's Breath had really put on a show, but they still wouldn't have long before someone in the Blockade thought something up about it. They'd have to move fast if they wanted to maintain any element of surprise.

Valkren made sure that everyone was properly kitted and prepared with their loadouts before shipping the pod out. Some rangers, like Tyrell, had preferences in the weapons the carried into combat. The rest of the rangers in the group wielded LPD 'firebolt' blaster rifles, with their firing settings switched to stun, but Lieutenant Harris still had his rotary cannon hanging from its back sling, just in case. The ride was a quiet one once the small assault ship left The Concord. With little to no communications due to the stealth systems, and no true sightline to what was going on around them, the strike team would be left with their thoughts for the brief moment the ship sped towards the Ambition.

Commander Calderon would speak only minutes before the ship's impact with the Ambition's shields. The proton charge that would soon detonate to let the boarding party through its shields would probably be all the heads up the crew within needed to know their attackers were here. Time would be precious from there on out.

"Remember, primary objective is the safety of the hostages. However, this transport is a one way thing. Once we're there, we need to secure the entirety of the ship. They're just miners, so they wont put up too much of a fight if we act like a bigger force. Lieutenant Harris, take Lowder and Clark to the last known location of the hostages. The Shadow and Caphey can come with me to the bridge. We'll end this little blockade as soon as possible, and hopefully with no casualties."

Valkren turned back to the front where the entrance hatch would soon appear, ready for what came next. He blinked once, a thought bouncing around in his head before it came quickly in a verbal form.

"Oh, and no hero stuff either! We all come home today."

The commander readied himself for the impact just as a warning light popped up on the inside of the assault ship's piloting system. It would be mere seconds before...

Boom

Valkren tried to be the first out into the corridor, wether anyone would be present on the other side was unknown. They had a lot to find out once they got their bearings.

"Move! Move! Antarian Rangers!" A usual for protocol, especially with the risk of non-combatants being so high. They had to announce who they were.

[member="Vertigo"] | [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Tyrell Caphey"] | [member="Celiana"]

 

[Silver Storyteller]

Antar 5​

Byrec’s eyes darted back and forth as he watched the chaotic scene play out from his seat on the bridge. “What’s going on out there?” The bridge was now buzzing with activity – the understaffed crew trying to make sense of the various sensor readings and scans coming in.

“Hard to say, sir,” a comms officer said, “there’s a ship trying to attack them, and it looks like one of their shuttles is out of control…”

“SIR!” another officer nearly jumped out of their seat. “We’ve got a hull breech on deck eight! Looks like we’re being boarded!”

Byrec’s heart leapt into his throat. How did the Silver Jedi get a ship so close? Had everything outside been some sort of distraction? Had they already lost this battle before it could even begin? One my one, the various members of the crew turned to look at Byrec, wondering just what this meant for their movement. There was no way they could take on a group of highly-trained soldiers, and most of them weren’t in this for combat.

The Gotal captain rubbed his thumb and forefinger together in increasing speeds as his mind went through the various possibilities. Was he really going to let all of these people down? They had put their trust in him, and he was about to lose it all in a matter of moments. From where the Rangers had made entry, they would make it to the hostages in no time, and there goes their bargaining chips.

Byrec pressed the transmit button on his armrest, his voice now rushed and panicked. “Attention, Silver Jedi leaders! Recall your troops immediately, or we will start killing hostages!” Only a moment went by, but to the Gotal, it was an eternity. Not waiting an adequate amount of time for a response, he whipped around in his chair, a command caught in his throat. The gravity of the decision he was about to make was not something he was prepared to deal with, even when he had set this plan in motion.

“Kill a hostage!” he spat, and the bridge fell deathly silent. “Order the guards to kill a hostage! NOW!”

No one moved. No one said a word. They all just looked at each other with wide eyes and disbelieving expressions. Finally, one of the comm officers said lowly, “I can’t do that, sir.”

Byrec stood, his face now red with frustration and anger. He pointed at the defiant comm officer, raising his voice. “Send the order, Draic! Do it, or I swear we’ll never-”

His sentence was interrupted by the warble of a stun bolt hitting him in the back. Byrec slumped to the floor, completely unconscious. All heads in the bridge turned to a young security officer who was shakily putting his blaster pistol down. Quickly, the security officer stepped over to the captain’s seat and pressed the transmit button. “Silver Jedi, this is Ambition. We’re surrendering – we will allow the Antarian Rangers to take the hostages. Please allow us time to properly disband the blockade. Thank you.” The security officer let go of the transmit button, and the bridge was still eerily silent. Not everyone would agree with giving up that easily, but no one else would want to kill people over this, either.

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Vertigo"] | [member="Valkren Calderon"] | [member="Celiana"] | [member="Tyrell Caphey"]

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Objective: 1
Allies: [member="Valkren Calderon"] [member="Celiana"] [member="Vertigo"] [member="Tyrell Caphey"]
Enemies: Pirates
Others: Red Hammer Mining Guild

"Incoming transmission"

“Silver Jedi, this is Ambition. We’re surrendering – we will allow the Antarian Rangers to take the hostages. Please allow us time to properly disband the blockade. Thank you.”

"Request accepted; just make sure that you will abide by whatever verdict the courts will hand you regarding the matter. It is likely to be a rather complex judgment, however"

After a few proton torpedoes hit the pirate ship, one of which managed to penetrate the engines and cause an explosion that caused a reactor leak, it appeared the shuttle was no longer fired at. And so the shuttle was tractored, albeit with some hull damage thanks to the pirate ship's engines exploding near the shuttle. Yet, there was no follow-up from the Antarian Trade Council in the dossier of the southern hemisphere exclusive mining rights. Probably because, they, too, hoped for the courts to actually do their work. Yet, a few seconds earlier they were willing to kill a hostage once Valkren and co made their insertion on deck 9. Jedi, oh Jedi, who else could have done this? I mean, mediation, not the infiltration part. Very few but others of that mold do exist, Jessica thought, hoping that the hostages were safe, and that they could be returned to their families. She was happy that there were only limited damages, casualties and other destructive consequences to this blockade. Now, that's what she calld protecting innocents.

 

[Syd Celsius]

"Nah...no explosives. Sorceror types I've ran into usually don't bother...but watch out for the traps..." Syd warned [member="Willa Isard"], in the meanwhile processing that information about the Vahla...so they turned to ash, huh? Strange...

Syd had rarely encountered Vahla, and when she did they were usually in one of two camps about her, some saw her as an emissary of the flame, other as a perversion of it. It had been rare for there to be nuance.

Syd for her part, and in spite of her nature, actually wasn't much of a spiritual person, beyond understanding the Force as being responsible for her existance, and thus, needing balance to remain healthy.

She wondered where she stood on the spectrum--did she do good because she wanted to, or because that was how her creators made her? Syd asked herself this question often these days, and wondered what that said of her, her being not quite sure. She wanted to know. It would have saved her a lot of useless attempts to meditate. Sometimes she could not center herself. She had come from and been used to an era on the verge of collapse, even after the Gulag Plague was declared over back then it still could have gone either way...

Not this era. This era it was one deadly thinga-madoodle after another. All the weapons and monsters were more hilariously violent then ever (Even the gag weapons were deadly. Seriously, what the hell, future?! ) and this was the opinion of someone from an era that practically ran on that in some places due to the ravages of plague still leaving their mark. Oh well...at least it all looked cool still.

Shaking the incredibly shallow observation away, Syd carefully approached the otherwise invisible pools of magic and asked one of the accompanying Jedi to toss her an object they didn't. One of them tossed her a stick. She stared at the small piece of wood in curiosity before turning to the one that had it.

"Really? You just happened to have a stick on you?"

"Sometimes Sith Lords booby-trap bodies left on a road, and they wake up as zombies when you walk by them. Happened to a friend last month, swears by them." the Jedi answered.

"And how many dead bodies do you come across on deserted roads?"

"More than you might think. Never get near a corpse without poking it first to see if it's actually a zombie. Saves you a lotta jump scares. Poke 'em in the eye if you can, they hate that..." the Jedi added helpfully.

"I'll...keep that in mind..." Syd replied, tossing the stick into the invisible collection of magic.

It immediately rent itself in two, then caught fire. It was ash before she could blink, is flickering fire reflecting against her chrome suit.

"Okay...that's big tall glass of 'Nope'..." Syd muttered, chanting the old banishing spells under her breath, watching the magical trap recede from existence. Syd carefully repeated the process as she floated from trap to trap until it was actually safe to walk, even get close to the maze, though there were traps there she could not reach.

The halos of fire overhead turned orange-red, then red, and Syd gasped in surprise pain as she felt her ability to call on magic or the Force beyond sustaining her own shell cut. She tumbled to the ground, panting. Stupid, she cursed herself. She should have seen it coming. Magical fire. You suppress the traps, you yourself get suppressed.

"Can you all access the Force still?" she asked the Jedi who had accompanied her and Willa. They all nodded.

"So its just me feeling like I'm in a meat grinder..." she grumbled, getting up, and dusting herself off. She looked at Willa. "I have a problem...I can't access magic or the Force...and it feels like my shell is...starting to break down..."

The doors to the tomb shut with a click.

"Annnnnd the tomb's locked..." Syd grumbled further...

 

[Tyrell Caphey]

Objective: 1 - Board the Ambition
Location: With Strike Team - Spiral Class Assault Ship.
Assets: 1st Special Tactics Group, The Concord

Just behind the main strike force, sergeant Caphey and his small squad for the mission entered the shuttle that would take the miners by surprise. One hand grabbing onto a railing in the roof, and the other one making sure that the rifle on his back didn't knock anyone during the swift acceleration of the shuttle. With the comms down for stealth reasons, and except for the engine that rushed to take them to the Ambition, one of the few sounds that became more prominent was their own breathings. Preparations done and weapon systems in check, all that they could do during the short ride was to wait. It was next to inevitable to come to think about Sam. They had not seen each other for a while now, she attending business on Monastery and himself being largely off-planet and right now duty aboard the Concord.

The commanders voice spoke up and snapped everyone back into the mission. It sounded like an easy plan. He confirmed the orders with a short nod to the commander before grabbing the the rifle from the back, checking one last time if it were set for stun - it were. The hatch went up. Now, they got the receipt if they realy had the advantage of the moment of surprise. As the next ranger to flow into the corridor after the commander, he moved up behind him and close to the wall, taking point down the opposite direction of the corridor.

Vertigo Jessica Med-Beq Celiana [member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[WelshGuy]

Objective 2: Investigate the rumbling.
Allies: [member="Seth Brackson"] | [member="Mykes Taff"] | [member="Sky'ito Yumi"] | [member="Sabine Galen"]

"Grievous was Kaleesh cyborg, well more robot than being in my opinion. Wasn't much left that was organic if you read the descriptions of him. He was aggressive, calculating and ruthless. Many feared him, he evaded capture many times. Skilled in killing Jedi as he took Lightsabers as trophies." Yuroic grimaced at the thought of a Jedi hunter, he never understood why someone would hunt down peaceful people. Looking to Seth, he could he was somewhat interested in the history. However, he also noticed that Sabine's confidence wavered from his comment. Yuroic sent out a reassuring aura to her, he felt sure she knew what he was doing. It was likely unnecessary but he knew when he was a young knight others would reassure him in his role and it helped.

Feeling the rumble, he moved over to Sabine. "Need a hand with anything. Not an expert with tech but I can give a hand setting things up if you like?" He knew that if another rumble was coming they needed to make sure that they could catch it. "Seth, go ahead and have fun exploring, I'm gunna stay here for a bit." He smiled to Sabine. "Have you been with the Order long?" He asked in an attempt to get to know her.