The Missing of Constine [Open]

[Gianna Aegis]

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Premise: [member="John Locke"] of Locke and Key Mechanics has several offices all over the galaxy for a variety of business ventures and technological marvels. Fenris used to be the one of his most popular locations, until recently, and some of his share holders have expressing concerns in his absence. While he held no place in the governmental structure—He was well-respected enough that when strange things started happening in the Corporate World they reached out.​

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People have begun to go missing. Gone. Vanished, without a trace. This mission is designed for our heroes to find them and put a stop to whatever nefarious plot is causing the disturbance.​

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Location: Fenris [Constine City] – Space Port​

Standing With: [member="John Locke"]​

Add’l Tags: [member="Maani"] | [member="Gerwald Lechner"] | [member="Tallara"] [All Are Welcome]​

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Gianna stepped down from the ramp of the shuttle and jade eyes made a cursory glance around the gilded space port. The pair had landed in Constine City after a rather uneventful voyage in the Helios. The flame-haired woman had spent her time exploring and using the facilities on the rather large yacht to meditate. She had decompressed quite a bit on Haseria but her internal compass still felt ten kinds out of whack. A little peace and quiet in good company did her wonders.

She prepared for every eventuality, though, not with the application of weaponry. Gianna rarely carried a lightsaber. More often than not she could be seen wearing a few of the artifacts that John had forged for her. She preferred them. They were objected that allowed her to heal rather than to cause harm. The first breath of fresh air caused her to sigh longingly. She loved places like this. Full of people. Full of light—Full of life, that always found a way. “I feel like we’ve been traveling forever…”, she commented, though, the Helios had made good time.

John felt the need to help. Especially, since he knew many of those that had been affected. The Silvers had their hands full with the Sith but the Confederacy seemed to have returned to hibernation. They were focused inward, on securing their own house, before running headlong into unnecessary war. Gianna respected that. Truthfully, she was grateful for it. Tanaab…The war on Tanaab had been a trial for everyone.

“We’re supposed to meet a few people, aren’t we? A Confederate and a bounty hunter?”

Fenris really was desperate for aid. They’d put out notices to mercenary groups, bounty hunters, and as many groups as possible. The local authorities were entirely stumped. Every trail they had went cold. Every lead turned up absolutely nothing. Gianna had a few ideas on how to lure the culprits free from the shadows, but, John wasn’t going to link any of them.

She turned to face the Minister of Science and offered a sweet smile. The pale-skinned Jedi seemed to be innocent of all things, regardless the truth, she radiated strength and goodness. If it weren’t for the fact that they were trying to be inconspicuous Gianna would be wearing a set of rather plan robes. She liked light fabrics, though, her training dictated that she ought to remain formal. It carried a sense of duty and presence that all Knights should adhere to. For this trip she was wearing the colors of a soft sunset. It was two pieces, with an exposed midriff, but with a wrap that made it modest. John had assured her that she would blend. That was the point.

Blend. To be seen—Not heard. No one should suspect that she was anything but a competent attaché.

A sleek cloud car caught her eye and she nodded toward it. “Is that for us?”

They would, hopefully, meet with the rest of their group at one of the executive offices that had invited them. Gianna hoped, more than anything, that they would be able to recover the missing people. While she liked to look on the bright side, she wasn’t so naïve as to believe that awful things didn’t happen. She always told herself that there were no terrible people. Just terrible deeds.

Sometimes, that wasn’t true. Sometimes, some people, were just bad.

 

[Kyyrk]

OBJECTIVE: Assist John Locke in locating missing persons​

EQUIPMENT: In Description​

IMMEDIATE VICINITY: None​

OTHER TAGS: [member="Gianna Aegis"] | [member="Maani"] | [member="Gerwald Lechner"] | [member="Tallara"]​

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Fenris. Voph had been here a number of times already. It wasn't a bad place to conduct business. Reminded him of Rishi. He supposed it was fortunate that the planet was a good place to conduct business. He was, after all, often there on business. But today was a different kind of business. Normally his visits found him in the shipyards, or the offices of Locke and Key Mechanics. Designs and innovations that were brought to the company with the task of bringing them to life. Voph's own company was a compitent match for Locke and Key Mechanics, but they had no interest in shipyards of their own. Why would they? The relationship between Locke and Key Mechanics and Vylmiran Technological Industries was extremely positive, further cemented when VTI gave them permission to build a top secret facility on one of their moons.

But that wasn't what brought Voph here today. No, his visit, and the reasons therein, stretched far further than his business relationship. Mr. Locke was, after all, a well respected individual in these parts. And seeing what his business had done for the planet it called home, Voph could understand why. It was part of what drew Voph to Locke in the beginning. Back when he was but a wandering soul, leading a rag-tag group of soldiers that some might have called a fleet. Locke and Key Mechanics had brought Voph's fleet into existence. Partnered under the idea that the people of the galaxy needed guardians. Saviors.

But even more simple than that. Locke was the closest thing Voph had to a friend. Locke hadn't even asked Voph's assistance on the matter. And, Maker willing, he would never have to. When Voph learned of the troubles affecting Fenris, he set out immediately, seeking to lend whatever aid he could to his oldest ally. And so he arrived at the designated office, his new armor shining in the light, contrasted by the black armorweave jacket he wore around it. His dark hair was pulled back into a short ponytail, and his blindfold rested in its usual place atop his nose. The earpiece he wore chirped merrily as he stepped within the lobby. "I could get used to decor like this. Sure you don't want me to arrange for your office to...?"

Voph smirked. "Thank you, Darcy, but I think my office looks fine." There was an indignant scoff, and the AI fell silent, resuming her scans of the surrounding areas. She was on standby, keeping Voph updated on anything interesting happening in the area. Not that he really needed someone to watch his back, but she kept a much better eye on the holonet than he did. She was, after all, how he discovered this problem in the first place. Voph's twin blades were tucked away on his back, hidden under a panel in the jacket. Most parties were open to Jedi traveling armed. But he wasn't a Jedi, was he? Voph turned to visibly look behind him. Not that he needed to, but it let others know he was watching all angles. Locke wasn't even here yet. Locke didn't even know he was coming. Voph stepped up to the reception desk and leaned forward, clearing his throat softly. "Pardon me, miss, but I was informed there was to be a meeting with John Locke about the missing persons? I apologize for arriving unannounced, but I come to lend my services. Might you be able to tell me where they are holding this meeting?"

 

[John Locke]

Location: Constine City - Fenris​

Wearing: Suit​

Nearby: [member="Gianna Aegis"]​

Additional tags: [member="Voph"] | [member="Maani"] | [member="Gerwald Lechner"] | [member="Tallara"] [Open to all CIS who want to join]​

There was something about visiting Fenris, something that was different from almost any other planet he’d visited in the galaxy. There was a uniqueness to the planet, the mixture of raw untamed nature mixed with some of the most advanced technology in the galaxy. A balance that he’d never seen or experienced before, it was that dichotomy that had first drawn him to the planet, that had led him to establish the head office of his company here. His one time head office anyone. The man’s head twisted around to the side, dark eyes resting on the flame-haired woman next to him. He honestly was spending less and less time actually on Fenris these days, the new offices on Naboo were really becoming his new home. There was a peace, a calm happiness, he felt on the planet that just kept drawing him back.

Dark eyes sparkled with amusement as John’s gaze settled on the woman for a moment, a wry smile pulling at his lips. It hadn’t been too long before she’d dragged him off to Haseria to help rebuild a farmhouse. It was a small thing but that feeling of giving back, of making a difference with his own two hands was one that John had been missing without even realising it. The trip had been just what the doctor ordered, a chance for him to reconnect with his roots, with why he’s started this in the first place.

That was really what had brought him here, the citizens of Constine City needed some help and John wasn’t about to turn his back on them. Not if he could help them, could bring any kind of influence to bear on the situation. Besides, seeing Gianna rushing around the yacht that had carried them here had been it’s own kind of reward, the joy she felt, the excitement she exuded over the smallest discoveries it had been like rediscovering the ship all over again.

“I don’t know, felt like it flew by too fast for me.”

If he could have stretched out time, just for a day or two he would have. Just a few more minutes trapped in a bubble of their own, the pressure and stress of the galaxy, of their lives held at bay, a chance to shed the mantles and responsibilities and just be. But those mantles didn’t vanish, they were just waiting, circling like a shark sure that it’s prey would have to emerge. John could already feel the mantle of his responsibilities settling around his shoulders, data flooding into his senses as his cybernetics connected to the networks around them.

Still, for a moment it was still just the two of them, a brief moment before they dropped into the middle of dealing with the situation, of figuring out what was happening. He could already sense to cloud car approaching, it’s navi-computer reaching out to the network of the spaceport as it zeroed in on their location, sinking through the air as it gracefully slid to a halt in front of them, the doors swinging open.

“Yeah, it looks like that’s our ride. I wasn’t sure if they’d send someone to pick us up or if we’d have to find our own way there.”

There was a corporate skyscraper on the edge of the river, a glass and ferrocrete monolith reaching to the sky like a finger trying to grab at the clouds. It wasn’t a long flight, but it was enough, winding through the airways of the city, to reveal the dual nature of Constine City. The residential blocks, teeming with life, with a constant flow of workers heading to work or arriving home, shoppers spending their hard-earned credits. As long as he’d known the planet, Fenris had been driven by industry, but the businesses that had made their homes there, about the worship of profit and power. It was those workers who ended up ground into the system, the fuel that kept the whole thing moving. Left working jobs that barely sustained themselves it was those workers that proved a fertile breeding ground for the gangs that plagued the city. Plagued the planet itself.

John had tried, anyone who worked for Locke and Key got a fair wage and benefits, but there were only so many jobs available, a drop in the bucket compared to the planet. He knew he was already taking advantage of his interstellar status, using automation and revenue from other sources to support the workers on the planet. It was only, The planet’s corporate ecosystem seemed designed to drive their workers into the open arms of the gangs as a way to supplement their meagre incomes.

John knew the stories, had dealt with attacks from the gangs against his offices and workers before. He knew just how low a desire for money could drive an individual, a group. They’d know more when they arrived, know what they were dealing with, it was only…the cyborg couldn’t help but fear the worst. It felt like icy cold fingers grasping at his back, running down his spine. There was a fear there, a fear of what they might find, people just didn’t disappear, not even in a city as crowded as this. It was an instinctive reaction, his hand reaching out across the seat, slipping around Gianna’s, dark metallic fingers curling gently around the Jedi’s. He couldn’t feel her hand, the warmth of her skin, but just the reassurance of her touch, of her presence was enough for him, a salve against the worries of the situation

The squat blocks gave way to greenery, parks and wider roads, smaller houses and large skyscrapers as the cloudcar began to descend. The tower growing larger and larger in their vision as it came to fill the entire windscreen. Trivian Tower had been built as a partnership between three smaller firms, a combining of forces that had allowed them to compete with the bigger players, to make their mark. It was the head of one of those companies who had reached out to him today, that had drawn them here. Without the resources of the larger companies they couldn’t just ignore problems plaguing their staff, especially when those workers began to disappear.

As the cloudcar settled a harried looking Pharakis bustled out of the door, tablet clasped to her chest as the breeze coming off the rive tugged at her hair, blue eyes watching as John stood, taking a deep breath before turning to offer Gianna a hand out of the car.

“Oh I’m sorry Mr Locke, we weren’t sure when you’d be arriving and your guests have already started arriving and they look…do you really think they can help.”

Even here amongst the safety and security of the skyscraper there was that touch of panic, of worry hanging in the air. The fear pervading even the tightest security, a almost ghost-like presence that sunk it’s fingers into the depths of your soul. That icy cold touch again as John’s finger’s tightened around Gianna’s for a heartbeat, as he heard the worry and uncertainty in the woman's voice.

Fenris was a world where you could achieve anything, but there was always a price to be paid.

 

[Maani]

Location: Constine City, Fenris​

Immediate Vicinity: [member="Gianna Aegis"] [member="John Locke"]​

Other Tags: [member=Tallara] [member="Gerwald Lechner"] [member=Voph]​

Equipment: A-180 Blaster Pistol (Retrofitted), Vibroblade (Dagger-sized), Grappling Hook​

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Slavers.

The lowest of the low in the galaxy, Maani had frequent run-ins with such scum with her time on Tatooine. The Hutts were fond of slave girls that danced and did other things for their pleasure, not to mention the workers they had toiling away at the mines. It was a sickening thing that made her angry at the mere thought; someone like her who valued freedom and human dignity, and slavers stood in direct opposition to both those principles.

It was revolting.

And it was why she accepted this contract. People were disappearing, vanishing with no trace or trail to speak of, as if they’d just been picked up from the sky with no witness. Simply put, this was a mystery, and one that needed to be solved. Fenris was desperate – they had to be if they contacted the likes of her. She was a mere bounty hunter, most suits likely wanted nothing to do with her kind, even if she was known for being quite the sly individual. For her part, she had already made up her mind on what this was, for she knew the MO of slavers. This was exactly the sort of thing they’d do.

Her mission brought her to Fenris, some corporate world where a company named Locke and Key did all its major things. Operating mostly in the Outer Rim, she wasn’t used to going to other places. At most, she was made to be a “bodyguard” for rich men that went to parties, standing around as eye-candy. The pay was excellent, though she didn’t much care for the places she went to and soon returned to the Outer Rim. This was the first time she went to such a place on her own.

It was every bit as clean and orderly as she expected. Maani couldn’t help but have a bit of disdain in her face as she looked upon the planet for the first time. It was too calm, and absolutely reeked of corporate influence.

She hated it.

But she had a job to do. She adjusted her dress once more, and checked for her gear. It wouldn’t do to wear her battle equipment fully, for that would attract attention she didn’t need. No, she needed to blend in, and so brought only the essentials. Her blaster pistol, her vibroblade, and her grappling hook, all strapped to her upper thigh and covered by her dress. Not having her EE-4 in handy made her feel naked, but this would have to make do.

It was a short trip to her destination, taking a cloudcar taxi to her destination, a massive corporate skyscraper. Maani didn’t much care for the views, preconceived notions of what the planet was like not endearing her to the place or its amazing sights. The cloudcar settled onto the ground, no more than a minute or so after John and Gianna arrived themselves.

Maani got out of the cloudcar, making her way towards the two people speaking with the receptionist. The lady looked distraught, and that ached Maani’s heart. To have your friends just vanish along with the fear that you may be next takes a toll on your mind, especially if you’re not used to strife.

“For all it’s worth, we’ll do our best, miss.” Maani chimed in from behind them, attempting to reassure the receptionist. She then turned her attention to the other two there, a friendly smile on her face, “My name’s Maani, the bounty hunter hired to deal with this mess. It’s nice to meet you guys.” She introduced herself in an amicable tone.

 

[Cali Ziiva]

Location: Constine City - Fenris​

Outfit: Type A​

Nearby: [member="Voph"]​

Additional tags: [member="Maani"] | [member="Gerwald Lechner"] | [member="Tallara"] | [member="John Locke"] | [Open]​

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One of the doors to the towering structure opened, and in popped a pink head with pink hair. The Zeltron's bright eyes scanned the interior for just a second before she hopped over the threshold and began to stroll toward the front desk with a liberal amount of bounce to her step. The high-heeled boots clacked on the ground as the pink creature in a dark purple button-down vest secured by a wide belt made her entrance. A smile spread across her pink lips, and not a mote of attention was paid to any that stared. Or grumbled. Or fretted about the pink woman stealing someone that belonged to them -- what people thought of Zeltrons was honestly too much.

"Hey," Cali stopped before the receptionist, her upper body leaned out toward the desk with both hands angled slightly back over her derriere. Her head pivoted to the side so she could gaze on the strong man nearby apparently interested in the same thing she was. "Hello there!" A pause. A smile. "I'm Cali Ziiva with Whimsy -- the Emporium of Uncommon Means of Destruction. I heard there was trouble. Whatever they're into it's sure to involve things I can help with. We should team up and head up there. The sooner we start, the sooner all the problems go away."

The Zeltron's head tilted away a bit and her eyes rolled up to the side. Her right index finger stopped short of her lips. "Well, this problem, anyway."

Her hand lowered and was extended out toward the man radiating Force power and seriousness. Kind of reminded her of her Master. Still hadn't found him since he left Zeltros. "Promise, you won't regret it."

Aside from the outfit that bordered on subculture casual and some means of mission readiness, a blaster pistol was attached to her right side. There were also several pockets and loops hidden by the dark panels that fell behind her legs and likely more within the confines of her jacket; plenty of places to store interesting items and materials. To say nothing of the belt, gauntlets, and thigh-high boots. Though for those that paid extra-special attention they might notice the blaster pistol didn't look 'right' -- there was a bit too much definition along the bottom of an unusual barrel. Well, that was because it was actually a lightsaber. Lots of places allowed blasters; not all of them liked sabers.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

Location: Constantine City - Fenris​

Wearing: xxx​

w. [member="Gianna Aegis"] | [member="John Locke"] | [member="Maani"]​

Tags: [member="Cali Ziiva"] | [member="Voph"]​

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Life had been complicatedly simple for Gerwald Lechner as of late. With all the changes which took place around him, one thing remained constant, his loyalty to the Confederacy. Gerwald did not understand why he was so loyal when his time with them could be summed up in one word, hurt. Pain was all Gerwald seemed to know and cause, and yet he remained. The wolf stood proud and tall despite his experiences and troubles, and was determined he would fulfill his duty. There had been too much death, and while he may have lost his best friend, someone he loved, on Taanab, he did not have to see others meet the same fate. The Minister of Science and his companion had been on Tanaab as well. It had been a bloody fight leaving many dead or wounded on both sides. Gerwald had managed to remain unscathed, save for the emotional trauma he suffered.

It had left him weak, malleable. His mind and actions were left vulnerable to manipulation by a Dark Lord of the SIth, and the giant of a man had given in. He should have been dead many times over, but as he reached the brink the Sith simply healed him until finally leaving him for dead, to be found later by the Exarch [member="Srina Talon"] herself. For weeks Gerwald had remained a wolf, allowing himself the time to hide and heal, but this mission called for him to stand as a man. This would be his first public appearance since that incident. There were people missing who needed to be found, and there was a Confederate Minister out in the open. As a Knight Obsidian it was his duty to serve and protect.

Gerwald was quiet as the pair walked out of the ship and to the vehicle that had been waiting for them. The lupine arrived early to clear their way and ensure everything would be safe for their arrival. His eyes watched as they moved into the vehicle which had been sent for them, and followed behind them on a speeder bike of his own. If anyone attempted anything during their transport, Gerwald would be there to stop them. His skills in the force had grown. Gerwald had latched onto something [member="Naedira Darcrath"] has said to him before she died. "Through passion I gain strength..." Gerwald had not recognized it then, but he understood it now as part of the Sith Code. Embracing the pain and passion had made him stronger, darker, but stronger. Gerwald would protect those he could, and die if he failed.

They were close to their destination when Gerwald drove ahead of them. Stepping off the speeder bike Gerwald had been there to be sure they exited the vehicle without incident and followed in behind them. His eyes were scanning about the room for any potential trouble when they fell on a woman in a red dress ([member="Maani"]) falling close behind the pair he was there to protect. Everyone seemed to be dressed to blend in, including this bounty hunter which had been hired to help. Gerwald quickly checked the file on his datapad to confirm it was indeed her, and left her be. He did not blend in. Gerwald was dressed in his usual armor, and his massive lightsaber hilt hung from his waist. The obsidian colored blade would snap to life when needed, but for now it slept, patiently waiting to be called upon.

"I will need the list of names of those who have already arrived. Send them to my datapad."

His words were dry, matter of fact, lacking any kind of emotion or feeling. They spoke to Gerwald's current state. The Lupine was numb. The Mountain had broken something inside Ger, or the death of his friend still lingered heavily on his soul. Either way, Gerwald felt nothing at the moment, which had the potential to make him dangerous. His wolf guided him more than his reason and intellect. Gerwald could only hope his instincts would not be a liability on this mission. He was determined to be an asset.

He turned his gaze to the others.

"Shall we make our way to the others," Gerwald suggested. "The sooner we start, the sooner we can put this to rest."

 

[Tallara]

Tag: | [member="Gianna Aegis"] | [member="Voph"] | [member="John Locke"] | [member="Maani"] | [member="Cali Ziiva"] | [member="Gerwald Lechner"] |​

Location: Locke and Key headquarters, Constine City, Fenris; 45th floor, meeting room​

Equipment: Obsidian-type Strike Armor, modified DL-44, .48-caliber Enforcer slugthrower pistol, Knight Obsidian Sword (specific image), vibroblade​

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What's taking so long?​

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There was a reason Tallara trusted herself so much. There were moments where she could truly feel proud of and confident in her abilities. Perhaps it was a little immoral to sneak into the place when it would have been perfectly acceptable to walk in the front door and ask nicely to be shown to where the briefing would happen. Instead, she'd simply walked in the front door and headed on up. Dubious decision making aside, Tallara was proud to say that she could sneak into even the most advanced of tech companies' headquarters.

Her armor did half the work, and the Force did the rest. Even with the gratifying success of her experiment in stealth, she did partly regret coming up here without talking to anyone. She was the only one in the briefing room where the 'group' had been supposed to meet. Perhaps they'd moved to a different time for the briefing? That would be poor form on Tallara's part, she'd have to apologize...

Thankfully she felt a familiar presence arrive in the building -- she'd only met Voph once, and only briefly, but she'd certainly have no confidence in her abilities if she was unable to recognize such a strong and unique Force presence. It was likely he was here for the same reason as she was. If there was another Knight, that meant there was someone she could trust. This mission would be much easier with a man like that on their side. As for the rest of the group... well, she'd have to wait and see. It seemed she was on a bit of a streak in terms of working with people she wasn't familiar with. Her last mission hadn't gone... terrible... but Tallara felt that she could be opening up a bit. That might make this whole thing easier.

 

[Gianna Aegis]

Location: Fenris [Constine City] – Space Port​

Standing With: [member="John Locke"] | [member="Maani"] | [member="Gerwald Lechner"] | [member="Tallara"] | [member="Voph"] | [member="Cali Ziiva"] [All Are Welcome]​

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Gianna could only smile at her companion softly. Time always moved too quickly or too slowly for him and only rarely did he find it just right. She reached out to let her hand rest against his arm. It was made of metal and intricate parts that could only feel pressure, however, the gesture was still meaningful. No matter the small lake of distance that had cropped up betwixt them—She was still there.

She would always be there.

The drive in the cloud car was peaceful. She could feel tension wind itself around the Minister of Science. It was unavoidable. The creeping cold that swept through him. In a well-to-do community like that of Constine, disappearances, and missing persons were rare among the elite. The gangs tended to prey on the lower class. Always, the predatory way. Most beasts went after that which would be the easiest meal. That didn’t seem to be happening here.

There was nothing easy about taking the children of multi-million credits conglomerates. What was worse? No ransom. No one heard a thing from the culprits. No bodies either. Just silence.

When John took her hand in the cloud car, she turned he hand and wrapped it around his. He was her dearest friend. She knew him, often, better than she knew herself. Contact had always been a balm to that which unnerved him. “Have faith. We are here now—And we won’t leave until we’ve caught the perpetrators. This nightmare…It will end.”

They arrived to their destination and were greeted by a curious-looking citizen. It took Gianna a moment to realize that she indeed have horns coming from the side of her head. As always, she marveled over something new, but did so quietly. Gia didn’t want to be offensive or awkward for staring. She took John’s hand so that she could slide from the bench comfortably and only caught the tail-end of what the harried female had to say. Could they help?

John didn’t reply. His grip on her hand tightened, not enough to hurt her, but it was a warning. She could see that his hope had not yet solidified in his silence. Her lips parted to respond, but instead, a new voice entered the conversation from behind. Gianna turned to face a sable-skinned woman that she had yet to formally meet. Her smile was reassuring, sweet, and kind in all things. “Exactly. Our new friend is correct. We will do everything we can.”

The flame-haired Nabooian let go of John briefly so that she could greet [member="Maani"] properly. Her hands clasped before her, wrists twining, before she inclined her head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Gianna Aegis. This is [member="John Locke"].”

Jade eyes swept over the well-dressed young woman. It was hard to picture someone so friendly looking as s bounty hunter, but, the young Jedi Knight had stranger things. Another individual made themselves known as they stepped from a speeder bike not far ahead. He was unlike the rest of them. Tall, far taller than she, and clad in armor. Gianna did not know his name but she did know that he was a Confederate Knight Obsidian. Obviously, he was here to keep John safe.

Her gaze flickered. His words were dry. Handsome and no-nonsense… But there was something off. She could smell the darkside in him. Loss. A soul conflicted.

He requested that they get a move on and she nodded her head in agreement. Introductions could wait. More than anything, they needed to get off the street, and away from prying eyes. He stood out like a bantha in a tutu. Her gaze slipped back to the Pharakis and she watched as the receptionist nodded to the Knight Obsidian. She was still troubled but it couldn’t be helped. Gianna did her best to project hope. Hopefully, it would bring some modicum of comfort to her allies and those they passed. A Jedi trick to be truthful…But a good one.

The quartet passed through security easily enough, though, they were greeted by a few additional members of their impromptu investigative team in the reception area. A pink-haired Zeltron [[member="Cali Ziiva"]] seemed to be bargaining for entry with a Pharakis that didn’t seem to know what to say. Did she let the confident woman through? Gianna paused, briefly, feeling her way through the Force. Another presence she knew in passing. [member="Voph"]. She only recognized him through John. Well, John, and their not so recent war on Taanab. “Please. Both of you—Come with us. Forward any identification you have to the Knight Obsidian behind us. He will ensure that all is as it should be.”

Those words were mostly for the Pharakis. They were jumpy. Reasonably so.

With that the group became a sextuplet [[member="Voph"], [member="John Locke"], [member="Maani"], [member="Cali Ziiva"], [member="Gerwald Lechner"]] and they traveled up a turbo-lift to get to the correct conference room. It was specific, high-tech, with counter measures to prevent eavesdropping through multiple means. No one was supposed to know the specifics of who was coming, but, it was a fairly wide call for help.

Between the spaceport and the lobby? They could have already been exposed.

The Conference Room was not empty as expected. It was another person she did not know [[member="Tallara"]], but, she could denote them as being with the Confederacy. The hexagons on the armor gave it away. Gianna glanced toward John…Now that they were here? It was time to begin. The Jedi Knight took at seat at the table and keyed in her name for easy reference sake. It would display it on the table before her.

“Thank you all for coming…”, she trailed off, before yielding the floor to [member="John Locke"]. This was not her operation. She was only here to help. He had the details and data-packs they would need to begin.

 

[Ciri Jade]

Location: Constine City, Fenris​

Objective: Respond to reports of missing persons.​

Equipment: Roc-class Mk I Stealth Armor, Chronometer, Smart Glasses​

Weapons: A-180 Blaster Pistol (holstered - right thigh), BCR-X19 Needler Pistol (concealed - stored in ship)​

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Tags: [member="Gianna Aegis"], [member="Voph"], [member="John Locke"], [member="Maani"], [member="Cali Ziiva"], [member="Gerwald Lechner"], [member="Tallara"]​

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. . . One day prior . . .​

​

In the shadows of the Confederacy, there was always activity stirring, whether it was agents acting to prevent acts against the CIS or merely gathering information on organizations or events occurring star systems away. Between activities for the Confederacy and her own unit based in the Outer Rim, Ciri found herself pretty busy on most occasions. Sifting through data coming through friendly channels, reports of people going missing on the world of Fenris made her give pause. As she was away from Confederate holdings and felt that the task would be suited for her own unit, she opened the encrypted channel put in place to stay in touch with them.​

​

"Nova.. Frostbite.. suspend operations and deploy the wing to the coordinates I'm sending now. Leave home on its current path. Calypso out."​

​

. . . Present Day . . .​

​

Arriving later than she had anticipated, she adjusted her jacket to ensure she appeared presentable as she disembarked the cloudcar, tossing the driver a credit chit for his troubles before heading into the tower. Upon reaching the receptionist, she put on a kind smile, warming and oh so practiced. "Hey, as I'm sure others may have, I've come to offer my aid in the growing problem." Her tone was smooth yet calm. "The name is Kytra Zynesh." Using a callsign for her identity would be odd and bring unwanted attention, and giving her true identity was out of the question. Her go-to name was well enough that it wouldn't raise alarms or bring her unwanted suspicion.​

​

Complying with any and all requests that security may require of her, Kytra adjusted her glasses, and requested if they may show her to where the conference room was located, preferring not to get lost in the tower, and a visitor such as her wondering around may not be best for their security, of that she was certain.​

​

Upon reaching the door to the conference room and being allowed inside, she thanked the one who guided her to the destination and took a seat, mentally taking note of all who were present. "Sorry if I am late, interstellar travel times and all." Making sure she wasn't interrupting anyone when she spoke, keying in her name as she believed it necessary.​

 

[John Locke]

Location: Constine City - Fenris​

Wearing: Suit​

Nearby: [member="Gianna Aegis"]​

Additional tags: [member="Voph"] | [member="Maani"] | Gerwald Lechner | Tallara | [member="Ciri Jade"] | [Open to all CIS who want to join]​

​

​

Everyone had it, a mask they could call upon to cover up their feelings, their emotions when they needed to. It was an essential part of business, or politics, of life in general…and John hated it. The cold precise speech lacked any kind of connection, any ability to pull people in. If there was one thing he’d discovered most people responded better to emotion than fact, needed that connection.

The man’s hands slipped into the pockets of his trousers in a practiced gesture, one he had repeated time and time again as the man leaned backwards resting against the back of the turbolift as it travelled up. Dark eyes flicked over the impromptu team that had assembled, each of them lost in their own thoughts and concerns. Two members of the Knights Obsidian, the ubiquitous force wielders of the Confederacy, Voph he knew the ancient master was a fixture at the shipyard’s orbiting the planet, his ships always coming in for repairs and refits. The other knight, well most of the group to be honst. The confederacy was a vast collection of indiviuals all pulling together and John was just happy this many had answered his call.

The cyborg’s eyes danced away from Voph to the other Knight, the man who had been assigned to him as a bodyguard for this mission. The tall armoured man standing out from everyone else, well almost everyone else. It looked like one of the others who had settled in the elevator seemed to have come ready for a fight. Which probably wasn’t a bad idea, given how well armed and trigger happy some of the gangs were having the visible muscle backing them wouldn’t be the worst idea.

The man’s fingers curled into fists in his pockets, his eyes closing for a moment as he just listened to them talking, shifting around. The rustle of cloth and clink of metal echoing around the enclosed space. The truth of the matter was he wasn’t sure that they could save the victims who had already been taken, he’d heard and seen what the gangs were capable of, the news on Fenris always had some report of the gangs and their atrocities. While the gang’s rarely crossed the line to go after the executives and their families, but now. A soft sigh escaped John’s lips as his eyes flicked open, the irises glowing a bright blue, if they were willing to declare open season like this then something had changed.

Reams of data flowed across John’s vision, collating and being discarded as he searched through the reports that had been forwarded to them. Searching for any connection, to understand the story he was about to place before the rest of the group as the doors hissed open on the empty conference room, as they all fiiled out.

John could already feel his mask settling into place, he knew some of these families, had eaten with them laughed with them. That wasn’t what was needed now, they didn’t need to hear about the stories and anecdotes that filled the communications he’d received, they just needed to know the cold hard facts of the case. It wasn’t important who would share half their sandwich with their little brother or who loved to play chess with their father. The families wanted someone to know, needed to know that their loved ones were more than just statistics, but to the people who would have to go in on the ground…that was just a distraction wasn’t it?

A soft sigh escaped John’s lips as he watched the rest of the team settle in the conference room, as Gianna passed the meeting over to him. One metal hand slipped out of John’s pocket, gesturing at the holoprojector in the middle of the table as It flared to life showing a map of Constine city. “Over the last month the conglomerate which is based in this building noticed something fishy about their personnel, a marked increase in the number of absences in their staff.” The hand John had freed from his pocket reached up to run through his hair, as he shook his head. “I should probably start with some background. The areas of Constine where the workers live, the apartment blocks and shops all are gang territory. The gangs mostly leave the workers alone, focusing on providing them with whatever vices they need to make their lives easier and protection rackets. Once in a while though they’ll try to play the hostage game, kidnapping a worker or two and holding them for ransom till the company coughs up. That’s what used to happen at least. Over the last month though, no ransom requests have been received, no gang members have been in contact They started with some of the factory workers, fairly standard if it wasn’t for the lack of a ransom, but then they started going after their families which was a greater cause for concern. Recently though, it hasn’t just been the workers and their families who have been targeted, in the last week and a half whoever is behind this has been targeting the executives who run the companies and their families. We don’t have a lot more information so far, just that most of the victims are younger, running the gamut from 12 year-olds to 25 years. Their parents, their bosses, the entire community is sick with worry, and that’s why thev’ve asked us to step in and sigure out what’s going on here.”

Unsaid was the addendum, the kidnappers needed to be stopped, whtere that was by taking them in or something more drastic, the conglomerate was paralysed with fear and terror, which John suspected was part of the point of the exercise. If this situation carried one much longer It would mean the end of the conglomerate and all the jobs related to it. S ingle company’s failure wouldspell disaster for the workers, but an entire conglomerate was too much to worry about. It would be the end of everything for the innocent workers.

“None of the older gangs would try something like this, so we can focus on the younger gangs, on those who are just trying to establish a name for themselves. We can find them o patrol, we find the victims and we make sure’ they’re safe."

 

[Tallara]

Tag: | [member="Gianna Aegis"] | [member="Voph"] | [member="John Locke"] | [member="Maani"] | [member="Cali Ziiva"] | [member="Gerwald Lechner"] |​

Location: Locke and Key headquarters, Constine City, Fenris; 45th floor, meeting room​

Equipment: Obsidian-type Strike Armor, modified DL-44, .48-caliber Enforcer slugthrower pistol, Knight Obsidian Sword (specific image), vibroblade​

​

Isn't this guy supposed to be super smart? And jeez, again with the fake names. When will they learn?​

​

"Have you vetted any of us?" She interjected at the end of Locke's awfully long spiel.

Tallara had heard about this guy -- Minister of Science, ran a large technology company with assets across the galaxy. Somebody competent. And yet it always felt like Tallara was the only one in the room who was noticing the basic things that should be the building blocks for someone much more successful than herself. How could a man like that fail in the very first step of his hiring process, she might never know, but she'd regret it if she didn't at least ask or point it out.

There was a slight pause for a moment before she spoke again, giving the rest time to adjust to her presence. After all, even in this reasonably lit room she was near impossible to see due to her armor. She didn't regret wearing it, though -- she didn't know most of the people in this room, and she didn't want more people knowing her face than were needed. "Like, maybe you have the others, but you have no idea who I am. For all you know I'm an assassin sent to kill you. Or maybe I'm part of whatever group's been carrying out these disappearances and you've just tipped them off, and now they know who to look for." Some people didn't think before they spoke. Maybe Tallara was overreacting a bit -- she recognized that two of the people gathered here were Knights Obsidian, and thus there were two people to vouch for her and one more to vouch for them. But the others, well, she wasn't dumb enough to not put them under scrutiny.

The one who'd somewhat kicked off their conversation was likely at working for Locke, and thus she was likely exonerated. The others, though... Zeltrons had a nasty habit of being excellent liars, and one who could use the Force could easily make it such that Tallara would be unable to sense said lies. The woman who'd come a little late to the party was already lying about her name and likely could not be trusted. And the last one... even if she were completely innocent, Tallara would likely feel the need to treat her as a civilian considering how poorly equipped for the job this woman had come.

Thus her hopes rested in the other two Knights. And herself, of course.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

Location: Constantine City - Fenris​

Wearing: xxx​

w. [member="Gianna Aegis"] | [member="John Locke"] | [member="Maani"]​

Tags: [member="Cali Ziiva"] | [member="Voph"] [member="Tallara"] | [member="Ciri Jade"]​

​

​

It was the red haired woman who agreed they should move on. Her gaze seemed to drill deep into his soul, searching for something of who he was. He could feel the uneasy sensation of her eyes discerning what he was made of. Gerwald looked away, pushing ahead. He did not like the feeling, nor did he want to admit that his ability to keep her out had been weakened. The wolf attempted to throw up a mental shield, but it was too weak. She would feel the conflict inside. She would feel the darkness winning.

His duty would be complete regardless of the battle raging inside. [member="John Locke"] was to be watched at all times. With those of this planet going missing, the Confederacy could not afford to send a high profile target without protection. The Minister of Science could not go missing, nor could he fall if the mission devolved into combat. Gerwald's mission was clear. HIs life was to be forfeit if it meant the Minister would live. Gerwald understood this, and welcomed it.

Some would call him foolish for thinking there was not much in the galaxy he had to live for, but Gerwald was hard pressed to find anything he possessed. His relationships were strained. He had managed to hurt every person his life touched. Even the woman he promised to protect was dead. Perhaps Gerwald had been looking for death when the Sith Lord had manipulated hi mind, but Gerwald no longer knew what his life was meant for.

They joined the rest of the group and made their way to a secure conference room. Gerwald could feel the shift in the atmosphere when they crossed the threshold. The security measures had a residual effect the wolf inside him could feel. It was an odd sensation, but he pushed beyond it. HIs eyes scanned the datapad as he put a face to each of the names and holoimages which paired with the files he received. All of them were of interest to him, a motley crew gathered together for the same purpose, one which the Minister now came into position to communicate.

All eyes were on the presentation, every ear intently listening to the facts of what was taking place. Gerwald was not the one to make any speculation as to who was behind everything, but he did understand something needed to be done. A grin tugged at his lips as the wolf within could smell the battle and bloodshed which was to come.

One of the women spoke, the blue one. Gerwald turned and looked at her as the question came. Had any of them been vetted.

"I've read all your files. Everyone in this room, their achievements, and their failures, are known to me. There is only one of you here who I will be keeping a close eye on."

Gerwald looked to the spy, [member="Ciri Jade"]. The name she gave produced a file which was too clean, manicured, crafted and created. Gerwald was suspicious, but had no reason to confront her. Until she proved that action was needed, Gerwald would simply watch her.

 

[Maani]

Location: Constine City, Fenris​

Immediate Vicinity: [member="Gianna Aegis"] [member="John Locke"]​

Other Tags: [member=Tallara] [member="Gerwald Lechner"] [member=Voph]​

Equipment: A-180 Blaster Pistol (Retrofitted), Vibroblade (Dagger-sized), Grappling Hook​

---

Within a few moments of her speaking to the red-haired beauty, a bunch of other people joined the little group. Seemed like they’d called people from every corner of the galaxy in an attempt to find the missing people. Indeed, if they’d called a lowly bounty hunter like herself, there would obviously be more people with greater experience on the job as well. Still, she did feel like she had certain, more subtle skills that they lacked. Just a gut feeling, but she usually went with those. Thinking too hard gave her a headache.

“Yeah, we should probably get outta here.” She agreed with the big guy, whom she noted was rather handsome, and followed the group into the building and up the turbo-lift. Anyone could be watching outside, after all. Not safe.

Maani sat herself at one of the available seats, awaiting the debriefing of the mission, which the corporate guy promptly gave. She frowned and put a hand on her chin, her earlier suspicions being more or less confirmed by this information. She knew better than most that jumping to conclusions was a bad thing, but no organisation she knew had this MO apart from slavers.

Before she could speak, one of the people spoke up in objection, raising admittedly valid concerns. After all, these people could be literally anyone, and it was hard to imagine that the group hadn’t already known of the call for help. Still… “Well, questioning everyone here to see if they’re spies is a bit impractical. In theory, we could be, but it’d be quite hard to find out. Better to not get paranoid about all that, the last thing we want is for our group to mistrust each other. Always leads to a bad time.” She gave her own opinion of the matter. There was always the possibility of a mole, but it was very difficult to find out if there was one or not from the get go, “The way I see it, we’ll have the opportunity to find our mole during the operation, if we have one at all. My gut tells me there isn’t one, and it’s usually right.”

“But we should get a feel for everyone’s capabilities. Tall, dark and handsome over here’s already read our files, but I’ll start for the rest who probably haven’t.” Maani cleared her throat, “I’m Maani, to everyone who didn’t get my name yet. I’m a bounty hunter, pretty good at capturing people alive, if I say so myself. I’m quick with my blaster and deft with my fingers. Pickpocketing, slicing, lockpicking, cheating at a game of cards; you need that, I can deliver. I’m also pretty light on my feet.”

“I consider my greatest asset to be my looks, though.” Maani held a sly smirk as she flipped her hair, as if to emphasise her point, “My greatest asset is my tongue, in more ways than one. I’m good at talking my way out of tricky situations or into a favourable position, I can handle myself in any social situation you put me in. I’m also good at seduction. You have no idea how much someone can reveal when they’re drunk and have a pretty girl latching on to their arm, or when they’re in bed with them.” She gave them a wink.

“I can also get into a fistfight, in a pinch. I prefer not to, though. I’m not really strong, so I just pull dirty tricks to win.” Maani paused, thinking a bit, “… And I think that’s it. We should probably come up with a plan. Just don’t make it too complicated.”

 

[Ardasz Verd]

Location: Constine City, Fenris - Skyline
Objective: Eye in the sky.
Allies: the people paying the bills: [member="John Locke"], [member="Gianna Aegis"]

He stared down the sight of his Czerka Sniper Rifle with his buy'ce secured to his hip. When he was out of close combat, he preferred to use the iron sights and scopes with his own eyes. There was nothing like the feeling of seeing it all up close or watching the flesh, bone, and sinew of a target explode under immense inward pressure.

Czerka weapons were known for their brutal efficiency, at a rating that behooved even Mando'ade to source weapons from outside the culture. They had never been shy about assimilating new ideas or people, though. In this situation, the gun was meant for surveillance more than murder- Ardasz had leave to take the shot if it became necessary, of course.

As a trusted member of the Guild and a man the Confederacy rarely wanted associated directly with operations, Ardasz was trusted to not identify himself as an ally to the group. There were those who already knew who he was and where, and how to get in contact if things got hairy. He encouraged them not to have the Jedi make the call, though.

Ardasz and Jedi were like oil and water.

Instead of eyeing the meeting, he was already sweeping the street and any unobstructed windows for a sign of the missing persons. He had a description memorized. Unless they had damn good smugglers, there was no way that the criminals had moved living beings offworld yet.

If he found no trace from above, he would narrow down the possibilities and try his hand at ground level.

Not just yet, though.

 

[Gianna Aegis]

Location: Fenris [Constine City] – Space Port​

Standing With: [member="John Locke"] | [member="Maani"] | [member="Gerwald Lechner"] | [member="Tallara"] | [member="Voph"] | [[member="Cali Ziiva"] | [member="Ciri Jade"] | [member="Ardasz Verd"] [All Are Welcome]​

​

​

[member="Gerwald Lechner"] was an interesting creature. Gianna wasn’t reading his mind. No, that would be incredibly rude and largely immoral. He was projecting. She could see through him because he allowed it. His mental shielding was not enough to keep the inner-turmoil at bay. The metaphysical pathway to him, through the ether, was twined with obstacles, unseen, deep and dark. “Slow and steady wins the race, Knight Lechner. Just breathe.”

She did not go further than that. He would understand her words, the reason for them, and the meaning. Gianna would respect his privacy as much as the mission allowed. He was hanging on by the thread of duty—Nothing more, nothing less. A man like that needed something, someone, to fight for.

Something, someone, to live for.

Pale jade eyes seemed to have a light of their own while she settled into the high-backed chair. She watched her name flash in glitchy holo-font while waiting for [member="John Locke"] to find his bearings. Even though she’d spent a good chunk of their flight trying to reassure him there was only so much she could do. Gianna didn’t have to look at him to know how tense he was. His worries seeped from his being. Empathy was a skill she had been blessed with. Her closeness to the Force led to a sense of nearness with those around. People couldn’t fool her.

Not for long.

She remained silent. The young woman held assurances from her time spent with the Confederacy. The nation of droids and sleeping war had sent along more than one Knight Obsidian. [member="Gerwald Lechner"] would ensure that everyone checked out, at least, on paper. There wasn’t much else to be done unless some in the room truly suggested that intentions be torn from the minds of people that should be their allies. That wasn’t the way to start this sort of venture.

“Thank you for coming Ms. Zynesh [[member="Ciri Jade"]]. Don’t worry, we’ve only just begun.”

If no one else spoke up to acknowledge the newest additions to their ranks, even late, she would. Wasn’t that what an attaché would do? Once the basic debriefing began her eyes closed briefly while she offered silent strength and trust. John needn’t find the will to stand alone. He was never, alone.

The map lit up. She had seen it before. Heard it, before. She had other concerns, other suspicions, but they need to be placed on the table just yet.

Soft eyes turned toward a female in armor [[member="Tallara"]] who brought several concerns to the forefront of the discussion. Security. Internal, security. [member="Gerwald Lechner"] responded that he held all of their data. Indeed, he knew, that she was a citizen of both the Confederacy and the Silver Jedi Order. Her lips parted to speak but a far more youthful voice took over. Maani. Gianna tilted her head and respectfully gave the young bounty hunter her full attention.

More good points. A swerve, counter, and closure. If nothing else—She was skilled at pulling a segue to lead them back to the task at hand. Gianna enjoyed her candor and her confidence. It was sweet even if it was a touch naughty in the end. Most mercenaries or bounty hunters she’d crossed were far gruffer and more weathered. They spoke with their weapons. Secured their pay with blood and fists. Maani seemed to prefer the softer side of the profession. While Gianna couldn’t personally agree with all of it, simply by her own nature, she did not judge. Her smile was kind. “Thank you, Ms. Maani. I think many of your talents will prove useful.”

“The governing body of Fenris placed the call for aid and support since their local authorities have fallen short. We will likely cross many groups we aren’t familiar with. Knight Lechner will do his best to identify and codify the parties that join us, however, we will need to handle our own due diligence.”, Gianna chimed in quietly. There was no hint of combativeness her tone nor did she sound dismissive. She merely wished to see the job done, the missing found, and the perpetrators placed in the hands of those that would hold them accountable. “I don’t sense true hostilities from anyone present. Distrust. Apprehension. That is normal for unfamiliar individuals. If it turns out to be more - We will deal with that in due time.”

Gianna didn’t disagree with the idea that Maani had to share what their skill sets were. If anyone was familiar with language, she had just blown her own cover, if they realized she was referring to sensing things in the Force. Her signature was suppressed. It would be extremely hard to feel, even, for an experienced Force User. As she was meant to be an attaché for John to the public eye…She did not divulge more. Not yet. “I propose that we review the data first. The general idea is that the veteran crime elements wouldn’t operate this way, though, I wouldn’t discount them. There is also a chance it may not be the work of a gang at all. There’s always the chance of an outside element.”

“To catch a fish…”, she intoned, pausing, before her lips pressed thin. “We need the correct bait.”

The correct bait was simple and they already had it. Individuals that were pristine, fair looking, and in a certain age range. They already knew the most common places civilians disappeared from. “We can create an environment in which the perpetrators unknowingly come to us. It is not without risk…But it’s better than announcing ourselves and running blind through Constine.”

They didn’t have physical evidence to work with. There was very little information to gather, thus far, and no witnesses. What they did have was mostly wooly guesswork. They needed to lure someone out. Then, perhaps, they could work their way up the chain. A tactical investigative response was never clean, never perfect, and often dangerous. John had mentioned that they would have more support on the ground level from the Guild [[member="Ardasz Verd"]] but Gia didn’t know who they were specifically.

If they could blend…Help them track, run, and organize the operation? It would go much more smoothly.

In more succinct terms—Gianna wanted to set a good old-fashioned trap. Using one of them, versus, an innocent bystander.

 

[Ciri Jade]

Location: Constine City, Fenris​

Objective: Respond to reports of missing persons.​

Equipment: Roc-class Mk I Stealth Armor, Chronometer, Smart Glasses​

Weapons: A-180 Blaster Pistol (holstered - right thigh), BCR-X19 Needler Pistol (concealed - stored in ship)​

​

Tags: [member="Gianna Aegis"], [member="Voph"], [member="John Locke"], [member="Maani"], [member="Cali Ziiva"], [member="Gerwald Lechner"], [member="Tallara"]​

​

​

Leaning back, a familiar feeling washed over her as she could practically feel the gaze upon her. During her childhood, it was an ever present feeling as she was a troublemaker even within the underworld of Nar Shaddaa. The false names were always just some shield to protect her true identity, though when she truly became a shadow it seemed even that faded into obscurity, only accepting one alias as truth. As she listened to the briefing, her focus remained solely upon the details being given as it would prove vital to the task ahead, no matter how it may turn out. Investigating slave rings wasn't new to her or her comrades, but this somehow felt.. different in a way she couldn't put a finger on. She only hoped 'they' were ready for whatever may come.​

​

For but a moment, after hearing the capabilities of the young bounty hunter, the idea came to mind that perhaps something may alleviate the feeling which hung over her. In truth, she didn't like being watched in that way. She wasn't here for the Ministry this time. Now, however, wasn't the time. Like a game of sabaac, the hand dealt must be played wisely.​

​

Leaning forward, her head titled to the side, gaze resting upon the hologram. "The selection for bait certainly varies." She paused, lightly tapping her chin in thought. "Given the descriptions of the missing, I can see what the option may entail."​

​

No matter how despicable, slavers were usually picky about their targets. If they could pluck someone in a way where little data could be found, they were smarter than most. More advanced, perhaps? Either way, getting the answers to the growing questions and putting a stop to them had her full attention.​

 

[Cali Ziiva]

Location: Constine City - Fenris​

Outfit: Type A​

Nearby: [member="Voph"] | [member="Maani"] | [member="Gerwald Lechner"] | [member="Tallara"] | [member="John Locke"] | [member="Gianna Aegis"] | [member="Ciri Jade"]​

Additional tags: [member="Ardasz Verd"] | [Open]​

​

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Cali's eyes sparkled like diamonds under the mid-day sun. Like, oh, my celestial, it was John Locke. The John Locke. Ooh he was just as composed and aloof as he appeared in pictures. No doubt thinking of some very important things. Probably related to the mission ahead, but she meant in general. Very noteworthy individual mean it came to constructing some very remarkable items. Headed up grand initiatives, had all sorts of resources and personnel... If Gianna hadn't hurried them along the Zeltron might have harassed John something fierce.

And hurried along they were. Found a nice conference room. Some comfy chairs. Then straight to business. No talk of drinks, snacks, fire exits... names, purpose, skills.

Right, so, big problem -- people going missing without a ransom. Okay, could totally be-- wait, and their families? Uh huh, could still be-- And the executives? But not as coordinated. Might be something separate, but related. And that all being said Locke ended with pointing straight at some young upstarts that didn't know the game -- or were too impatient to play by old rules. Someone always tries skimming off the corona sphere of a star.

Blue and cute over there chimed in about the whole "hit the ground running" approach before, you know, they hit the ground running.

Oh, but then the hairy one spoke up and Cali's rapt attention swung to him next. "I have a file? That thing on Algara II was totally overblown, by the way."

Then a kitty spoke up and now it was a party. Ooh, if this wasn't such a serious meeting kitty would totally get scritches. Was it then any surprise to hear she was light on her feet? No. No, not at all. Probably always landed on 'em too. Bounty Hunter too. Seemed totally fit; after all, felines were good predators. Cali knew a few other feline species. Great people. Just as diverse as any hairless Human-like species though; not all of them were warm and friendly. Couldn't get swept up in stereotypes. Except for scritches.

A none too quiet giggle radiated from the Zeltron as Maani continued. "Mm, mm." It was taking a lot of effort not to get woefully off topic right now. Except when it came to... "I do." What? Cali totally knew how useful seduction could be. Also knew it didn't always work, but that's when you relied on other skills.

With a little wave, the Zeltron decided to quickly introduced herself despite the hurry to move on. "Hi. I'm Cali Ziiva. I supply Whimsy supplies to those in need, but on top of that you'll find my mechanical talents up to par." She spared a quick glance at Locke before she felt a little heat rise to her cheeks.

She looked over at Gianna then. "So we kind of know the type they want, but not entirely sure on why. Why would be useful. Might be to build something -- except for the Executives, not sure what you'd want them for." Except ransom or leverage for something. Would they really know the right names to drop to guide kidnapping efforts? Maybe a few close to their level, but otherwise it was a big company, right? "So we need volunteers and somewhere to put them. Unless you're not telling the workers they're bait; that's kind of rude though. The more traps laid out, the harder it'll be to watch too." Cali smiled and looked up and down the table. "I mean, it's just resource management. Thieves try taking goods all the time. Just a metaphor."

 

[Kyyrk]

OBJECTIVE: Assist John Locke in locating missing persons​

EQUIPMENT: In Description​

IMMEDIATE VICINITY: ​

[member="Gianna Aegis"] | [member="Maani"] | [member="Gerwald Lechner"] | [member="Tallara"] | [member="Cali Ziiva"] | [member="Ciri Jade"] | [member="John Locke"]​

Voph had thanked the secretary for her time quietly as he turned to leave with the group, taking an escort position beside [member="John Locke"] as they moved through the building. He didn't say anything, but then he didn't need to. His intent was clear enough. He took a seat in the conference room, looking around at the others gathered. Some he recognized. Some he didn't. But the most interesting fact was the young lady introducing herself as Zynesh. She hadn't been Zynesh on Vylmira during the operation to remove Lord Tra'dan. Voph, ever the professional, kept his silence though. Whatever her secrets, he trusted her to be a loyal member of the confederacy. He didn't explicitly know of the existence of any shadow organizations within the Confederacy, but he knew well enough that they were bound to be there all the same. Things one learned when one had led such an organization after all...

When he stirred, it was to correct the Lupine. Lechner, they called him. That explained the strangely familiar bond Voph could feel upon him. Alwine. His sister. "Bet you fifty credits you haven't read my entire file. Only so far as it pertains to the Confederacy." As the wry grin faded from his face, Voph turned back to the group as a whole. "But on a serious matter, I concur. Now is not the time for doubt. Within this room, we have three Knights, a Jedi, A saleswoman, A bounty Hunter, and our Host. More internal security, frankly, we could not ask for." Voph paused for a moment, looking around the room. "For those of you who have yet to officially meet me, I am Darth Voph. Formerly of the Sith Empire, now seeking to throw off the yoke of oppression wherever I may find it. I am a warrior, first and foremost, but even old dogs such as I have the ability to learn new tricks."

Voph turned to look at Cali directly. "We would not sacrifice a worker to this endeavor, but one of our own. Someone capable of defending themselves if need be. I would volunteer myself, were I not a poor choice." Voph had a point. He was built like a Wookiee, and carried himself as one that knew how to fight. While some daring slaver might see him as an opportunity, it would invite a challenge best left for another day. No, it was best if Voph worked from the shadows on this one. Voph turned to look at Locke. "That said, I will defer to the judgement of our host, unless my input is specifically requested."

 

[Tallara]

Tag: | [member="Gianna Aegis"] | [member="Voph"] | [member="John Locke"] | [member="Maani"] | [member="Cali Ziiva"] | [member="Gerwald Lechner"] | [member="Ardasz Verd"] | [member="Ciri Jade"] |​

Location: Locke and Key headquarters, Constine City, Fenris; 45th floor, meeting room​

Equipment: Obsidian-type Strike Armor, modified DL-44, .48-caliber Enforcer slugthrower pistol, Knight Obsidian Sword (specific image), vibroblade​

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I couldn't be more thankful for the other two. This should be less painful.​

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Tallara slightly raised her eyebrow to the shaggy, bearded Knight. Not that it could be seen from under the mask. Her doubt about the others in the room clashed with her trust of any and all the Knights Obsidian. Voph's comment was quite pertinent; there was no way for Lechner to truly know who any of them were. Tallara didn't quite know who she herself was. And he even admitted that one might be worth putting under further scrutiny -- the one who'd lied about her name. "A single person can bring down the galaxy," she said quietly, knowing the fact all too well.

The child's argument was inherently flawed, but Tallara did not object after the other Knight had spoken, and she simply listened to the small young woman go into detail on her apparent skills. Distrust kept Tallara alive, and lies would leave them dead. A seductress was a liar. Tallara did not trust liars. That was how she kept on living. That was why she trusted next to no one. That was why she'd rather double and triple check everyone in the room before even beginning an operation, not simply going off of a gut feeling. Unless, of course, this Maani was a Force user concealing her presence. All the more reason to be 'paranoid'.

It seemed like this whole operation was more disorganized than Tallara had first thought. There didn't appear to have any sort of plan, no information, nothing. She let out a small sigh, again being forced into the position of the only person who was thinking in this situation. She wondered if any of them had actually conducted investigations before. "Let's not skip to the more 'exciting' parts. We should act logically and methodically," she said, cutting through the chatter.

"To begin, I'd like a few questions answered. Firstly, do we know where the most disappearances have occurred? We can check which companies and factories the workers were employed by, when they disappeared, and locate likely bases of operations for whoever might be directing these disappearances. Secondly, what did the previous groups try? I'm sure that the local law enforcement and any independent contractors working with the planet have attempted to find this 'gang', and thus we can eliminate ways to locate them that were unsuccessful and focus in on the best strategy." An idea had begun to form in Tallara's mind. And of course it was a good one.

"None of us here look like workers, and we've only just arrived here, making us suspicious and unlikely to be targeted. Additionally, using anyone as bait and having them captured needlessly puts them into harm's way." Perhaps the Knights would be fine, but she had no trust in any of the others' skills and refused to put them in danger for no reason. "If it is as you believe, Mister Locke, and this is the attempt of a new street gang attempting to gain reputation, then the quickest way to find them would be to speak to their rivals -- if they're becoming a nuisance and kidnapping people who pay protection fees of other gangs, then those gangs will most certainly have noticed and most certainly begun to gather information or take action against this new group. We should speak to the most influential of them and determine the new gang's location and other information."

Perfectly logical, right?

 

[John Locke]

Location: Constine City - Fenris​

Wearing: Suit​

Nearby: [member="Gianna Aegis"] | [member="Voph"] | [member="Maani"] | [member="Gerwald Lechner"] | [member="Tallara"] | [member="Ciri Jade"] | [Open to all CIS who want to join]​

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John closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before he leaned forward, resting his hands on the surface of the table as he nodded at the grey-blue skinned woman. “You’re right, we could look at the activities of the gangs, interview them and narrow down their search area that way. If we can get them to talk to us, there’s no guarantee that they’d be willing to actually talk. They only survive because they don’t spil the beans, otherwise they’d be flushed out of the city.” The dark-haired cyborg straightened, turning to glance at the window, his gaze falling through to the lights of the bustling city beneath them. “But that would take time.”

The man’s hand came up, gesturing at the city as he turned away from the window, “Somewhere out there someone’s looking up at the ceiling, at whatever window they can see and is praying fo a miracle. They don’t know what’s going to happen but know it’s nothing good. They don’t have a lot of time and I don’t want to risk them slipping through our fingers, to risk them being moved on out of our grasp before we get a chance to find them.” The man dropped down into his chair, nodding at Tallara, “yes, your idea is probably the most intelligent, and the safest way to find them and put an end to the slaving operation. But the time-constraints make it untenable.”

Slavery was perhaps the one area that everyone in the Confederacy agreed, the one evil that had to be rooted out wherever it was found. An evil if left unchecked could run rampant, destroying not just lives but entire communities.

John took a deep breath, spinning his chair around to stare at the window again, metal fingers digging into the armrests as he let out the breath. “You know, I gre up in a place like this, not on Fenris of course, but Coronet City back on Corellia. My family weren’t one of those who lived in the skyscrapers though, we eked out a living down there, trying our best to make ends meet. There were days that my parents wouldn’t eat so that we could, when they’d make up all sorts of nonsense games to try to distract us from the stories about another kid, another family who had just disappeared.”

He could still remember the hushed voices and furtive glances, the way the entire community had seemed to collapse in on itself every time a new disappearance was announced. He hadn’t understood it at first, the reason the smiles had vanished, the reason his mother had clutched him for that moment longer before letting him go. The same look of fear in her eyes as in the eyes of the secretary who had first met them when they arrived. The minister rose to his feet, his hands slipping into his pockets as they always did when he had to deal with something he found uncomfortable. “But we knew, we always knew. Those people down there, those families who’re wondering what happened to their loved ones? I’m them, I’ve held a woman’s hand when the police told her they were too slow, they’d rounded up the gang but her son, her daughter had already vanished.”

Dark eyes swept over th team gathered in the room, the mask cracking ever so slightly revealing the torrent of emotion behind it. It had always been a thin mask anyway. “The police will do what they do, I’m sure they’ll catch up with whoever is behind this eventually, but by then it’ll be too late. But here,” he nodded at the group gathered around the table, “we don’t have to wait for a court order, or for authorization to act. Someone out there’s praying for a miracle….that’s why we’re here today.”

Dark eyes swept up the table to meet Vophs, inclining his head at his friend, “As…comforted as I would be to let you play bait, I’m afraid both you and Mr Lechner are far too dangerous looking individuals to attract the attention of the criminal elements that we’re seeking out.” A slaver by their very definition wouldn’t attack a position of strength but try to take advantage of perceived weaknesses.

Already John could feel the stirring of premonition, see where this was going. The man could feel the icy claws of unease grasping for him, sinking into his core as he glanced around the table. “Gianna’s right, we know what they’re looking for, so all we need to do is create an environment where they can’t resist their prey. And you’re right too Miss Ziiva, better to focus all our efforts in one place than to spread them out, we’re better able to respond to the unexpected that way.”

John let the glow fade from his eyes, the cybernetic’s heed been using to draw information and control the room fading for a moment as his dark-eyed gaze sought out a pair of emerald-green ones. He’d known from the moment she suggested it what the Jedi was suggesting, and knew that if needed she’d volunteer to play the role of bait. It was who she was, just a part of the woman in the same way that her smile was or the way she made everyone around her want to be better. John wouldn’t have changed it for the world, but that didn’t stop him worrying, a depth of emotion, of words and speeches unsaid in that meeting of eyes. The connection that seemed to last forever, that lasted only a few heartbeats before he dragged his gaze away.

“I guess we need two things now, volunteers and a location to set our trap.“ The glow in John’s eyes returned as a map of the city appears infront of them, slowly rotating as he considered it. “Somewhere they feel confident but we can stay nearby to intervene when we need to.” John gestured to the map, “any ideas?”